Kishore121 at 02:43, 9 January 2026

2026-01-09T02:43:30Z

New page

{{Short description|Assassinations of political and religious leaders in Punjab, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = Targeted killings in Punjab
| location = [[Punjab, India]]
| date = 18 January 2016 – 30 October 2017
| target = 2 [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh|RSS]] leaders 3 [[Shiv Sena]] leaders 1 Hindu Sangharsh Sena leader 1 [[pastor|Christian pastor]] 1 [[Namdhari]] leader 2 [[Dera Sacha Sauda]] members 1 Sri Hindu Takht leader
| type = [[Assassination]] [[List of terrorist incidents in Punjab, India|Terrorist incident]]
| fatalities = 9 1 RSS leader 2 Shiv Sena leaders 1 Hindu Sangharsh Sena leader 1 Christian Pastor killed 2 Dera Sacha Sauda followers killed 1 Namdhari leader killed 1 Sri Hindu Takhr leader
| perpetrators = [[Khalistan Liberation Force]]
| dfen = [[Punjab Police (India)|Punjab Police]]
}}

During the years of 2016 and 2017, multiple attacks on political activists and mostly Hindu religious leaders in the northern Indian state of [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] were perpetrated by individuals who were allegedly affiliated with the Sikh [[militant]] group [[Khalistan Liberation Force]] which is a designated [[List of designated terrorist groups|terrorist group]] by [[India]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-12-27 |title=Govt bans Khalistan Liberation Force |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/govt-bans-khalistan-liberation-force/articleshow/67275538.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2023-04-01 |issn=0013-0389}}</ref> Those culpable for the attacks were also arrested. The Pakistani agency [[Inter-Services Intelligence|ISI]] was allegedly held responsible by India for financing and aiding the militant acts to foment religious disturbances in the state.

==Attacks==
* 18 January 2016 - Two motorcycle-borne persons wearing [[Balaclava (clothing)|monkey caps]] fired gun shots at new Kidwai Nagar Park in [[Ludhiana]] city. The place was to host a [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] ''shakha'' (assembly) later in the day. No one was injured in the firing as the venue was vacant at the time of attack.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/community/shots-fired-at-rss-shakha-ground-in-ludhiana-none-hurt/184983.html |title=Shots fired at RSS Shakha ground in Ludhiana, none hurt |publisher=Tribuneindia.com |date=2016-01-18 |accessdate=2018-05-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Press Trust Of India |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/shots-fired-at-rss-shakha-in-ludhiana-none-hurt-1191526.html |title=Shots fired at RSS Shakha in Ludhiana; none hurt |publisher=News18 |date=2018-05-16 |accessdate=2018-05-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/shots-fired-at-rss-shakha-in-ludhiana-none-hurt/articleshow/50622517.cms |title=Shots fired at RSS Shakha in Ludhiana; none hurt |newspaper=The Economic Times |publisher=Economictimes.indiatimes.com |date=2016-01-18 |accessdate=2018-05-21}}</ref>
* 18 January 2016 - Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Naresh Kumar shot at and injured by masked motorcycle-borne men at Kidwai Nagar's Shaheedi Park in Ludhiana city.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/2-unidentified-men-open-fire-at-rss-shaka-in-ludhiana/story-Alnk8qG1z2CnGQeDmNe34H.html |title=Unidentified men fire shots at RSS shakha in Ludhiana | punjab | top |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=2016-04-22 |accessdate=2018-05-21}}</ref>
* 3 February 2016 - Amit Arora, Shiv Sena leader, was attacked by two motorcycle-borne persons while he was sitting in his car in Ludhiana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/ludhiana/nia-team-recreates-attack-on-sena-leader-in-city/544706.html |title=NIA team recreates attack on Sena leader in city |publisher=Tribuneindia.com |date=2018-02-16 |accessdate=2018-05-21}}</ref>
* April 3 2016 - Chand Kaur was shot dead by two unidentified men on motorcycles near Ludhiana. She was the wife of former [[Namdhari]] leader Satguru Jagjit Singh. (This was the only attack not done by KLF).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-01-23 |title=Targeted killings in Punjab: Probe says Rs 40 lakh given to shooters through NRI route |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/probe-says-rs-40-lakh-given-to-shooters-through-nri-route-khalistani-separatist-module-behind-targeted-killings-in-punjab/story-5aENgu3Q9F6kqQgpTRNYZM.html |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Khalistan Liberation Force suspected to be behind Amritsar attack |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/khalistan-liberation-force-suspected-to-be-behind-amritsar-attack-1393093-2018-11-21 |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>
* 23 April 2016 - Durga Prasad Gupta shot dead by two motorcycle-borne assassins in [[Khanna, Ludhiana|Khanna]] city. He was the President of Mazdoor Sena, labour wing of Shiv Sena Punjab.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Shiv-Sena-leader-shot-dead-by-two-motorcycle-borne-youth/articleshow/51961780.cms |title=Shiv Sena leader shot dead by two motorcycle-borne youth |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=2016-04-24 |accessdate=2018-05-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/shiv-sena-leader-gunned-down-in-khanna/story-uuTB1wsq5tP26Fo8sLiqDK.html |title=Shiv Sena leader shot dead in Khanna |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=2016-04-22 |accessdate=2018-05-21}}</ref> Dashmesh Regiment claims responsibility for the killing.<ref name=h1>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/little-known-sikh-group-claims-to-have-killed-punjab-rss-vice-chief-gagneja-shiv-sena-leader/story-hEEpDFiXxACk0q6gNWDRSO.html|title=Little-known Sikh group claims to have killed RSS leader Gagneja|date=September 29, 2016|website= hindustantimes.com }}</ref> According to the NIA the killing was done by the Khalistan Liberation Force like the other killings.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-05-20 |title=Khalistan Liberation Force behind killings of 2 Shiv Sena leaders in Punjab |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/khalistan-liberation-force-behind-killings-of-two-shiv-sena-leaders-in-punjab-nia/story-awaE6sDUjgJeNqUfNrUbDO.html |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>
* 6 August 2016 - Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh state Vice President [[Brigadier]] (retd) Jagdish Gagneja was shot at by motorcycle-borne persons in [[Chandigarh]]. He was admitted to hospital and died on 22 September from the injuries he sustained.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-punjab-senior-rss-leader-shot-brig-retd-jagdish-gagneja-at-critical-2242030 |title=Punjab: Senior RSS leader Brig (retd) Jagdish Gagneja shot at, critical |publisher=Dnaindia.com |date=2016-08-06 |accessdate=2018-05-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=India PTI Sep 22, 2016 14:15:19 IST |url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/senior-rss-leader-jagdish-gagneja-passes-away-senior-bjp-members-pay-respect-3015426.html |title=RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja passes away, senior BJP members pay last respects |publisher=Firstpost |date=2016-09-22 |accessdate=2018-05-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/jagdish-gagneja-a-low-profile-yet-powerful-rss-leader-in-punjab/story-MtLMyv3FwUNBWBU2WwuSvL.html |title=Jagdish Gagneja: A low-profile, yet powerful RSS leader in Punjab | punjab | top |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=2016-04-22 |accessdate=2018-05-21}}</ref> [[Dashmesh Regiment]], sent emails to media claiming responsibility for the killings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/crime/290916/little-known-sikh-outfit-claims-to-have-killed-senior-rss-leader-gagneja.html|title=Little-known Sikh outfit claims to have killed senior RSS leader Gagneja|date=September 29, 2016|website=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref><ref name="h1" />
* 14 January 2017 - Amit Sharma, religious preacher and president of Hindu Takht and political activist of [[Indian National Congress]] killed in Ludhiana city by two motorcycle-borne assassins.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/hindu-organisation-leader-shot-dead-in-ludhiana-4474891/ |title=Hindu organisation leader shot dead in Ludhiana |publisher=The Indian Express |date=2017-01-15 |accessdate=2018-05-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ludhiana/hindu-organisation-leader-shot-dead-in-ludhiana/articleshow/56543768.cms |title=Hindu organisation leader shot dead in Ludhiana | Ludhiana News - Times of India |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=2017-01-14 |accessdate=2018-05-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NIA files chargesheet against three accused in Amit Sharma killing case |url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/nia-files-chargesheet-against-three-accused-in-amit-sharma-killing-case-2335648.html/amp |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=zeenews.india.com}}</ref>
* 25 February 2017 - [[Dera Sacha Sauda]] followers Satpal Kumar and his son Ramesh Kumar killed at a ''naam charcha ghar'' (prayer hall) in Jagera village near [[Malaudh]] by two shooters on a motorcycle.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/2-dera-sacha-sauda-followers-gunned-down-in-khanna-by-unidentified-assailants/story-fHVKu4LDdIbyqYQsirN6oO.html |title=Video | 2 Dera Sacha Sauda followers shot dead in Khanna village, cops suspect Sikh radicals | punjab | top |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=2016-04-22 |accessdate=2018-05-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/dera-followers-murder-after-death-of-father-grandpa-this-8-year-old-stares-at-uncertain-future/story-cPo3Cujp07Q4wgvVW31BTP.html |title=Dera followers' murder: After death of father, grandpa, this 8-year-old stares at uncertain future | punjab | ludhiana |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=2016-04-22 |accessdate=2018-05-21}}</ref> Satpal was also a Shiv Sena leader.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-05-20 |title=Khalistan Liberation Force behind killings of 2 Shiv Sena leaders in Punjab |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/khalistan-liberation-force-behind-killings-of-two-shiv-sena-leaders-in-punjab-nia/story-awaE6sDUjgJeNqUfNrUbDO.html |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>
* 15 July 2017 - Sultan Masih, a pastor at Temple of God church in Ludhiana city, was shot dead by motorcycle-borne assassins who fired multiple shots killing him on the spot.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/pastor-shot-dead-outside-ludhiana-church/437322.html |title=Pastor shot dead outside Ludhiana church |publisher=Tribuneindia.com |date= |accessdate=2018-05-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ludhiana-pastor-sultan-masih-killing-punjab-cm-amarinder-singh-gives-widow-rs-5-lakh-police-job-to-son-4753427/ |title=Ludhiana pastor killing: Punjab CM gives widow Rs 5 lakh, police job to son |publisher=The Indian Express |date=2017-07-16 |accessdate=2018-05-21}}</ref>
* 17 October 2017 - RSS and [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] leader Ravinder Gosai was shot dead in Ludhiana by two motorcycle-borne assassins. He was the RSS regional leader of [[Ludhiana district|Ludhiana]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/rss-leader-ravinder-gosai-shot-dead-in-ludhiana/story-d0DAwBmalUseU0yMGhZzmJ.html |title=RSS leader Ravinder Gosai shot dead in Ludhiana | punjab | top |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=2016-04-22 |accessdate=2018-05-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=RSS Leader Shot Dead in Punjab While Returning From 'Shakha' |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/rss-leader-shot-dead-in-punjab-while-returning-from-shakha-1763915 |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref>
* 30 October 2017 - Vipan Sharma, leader of Hindu Sangharsh Sena, was shot dead in [[Amritsar]] city by two masked men.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/shiv-sena-leader-shot-dead-in-amritsar/story-U55Z1CccyzIgk41DCQUfbI.html |title=Punjab: Hindu outfit leader shot in Amritsar, fifth murder in 2 years | punjab | top |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=2016-04-22 |accessdate=2018-05-21}}</ref> One of the shooter, Saraj Singh Sandhu, was arrested by police on 6 March 2018. (This attack was not done by KLF).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/killer-of-amritsar-outfit-leader-in-net/554030.html |title=Killer of Amritsar outfit leader in net |publisher=Tribuneindia.com |date=2018-03-07 |accessdate=2018-05-21}}</ref>

==Accused==
Some of the key accused in the attacks were:
* [[Khalistan Liberation Force]] leader [[Harminder Singh Nihang]] (alias Mintoo) was named as involved in the killings by the [[National Investigation Agency]]. He had been in jail since 2014 and later died in jail of a heart attack on April 18, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-11-11 |title=Targeted killings in Punjab: Hardeep met Mintoo in Italy three years ago, refused to join KLF, says probe team |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/targeted-killings-in-punjab-hardeep-met-mintoo-in-italy-three-years-ago-refused-to-join-klf-says-probe-team-khalistan-4931984/ |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-04-18 |title=Sikh separatist militant dies in jail, was blamed for attack on Ram Rahim |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/khalistani-militant-mintoo-dies-of-cardiac-arrest-in-patiala-central-jail/story-tkZrypuehTmIwLqS9QQKKO.html |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Khalistan Liberation Force]] future leader [[Harmeet Singh (militant)|Harmeet Singh]] (alias Happy PhD) was the mastermind behind the killings. He was wanted by Indian authorities and [[Interpol]] who issued a [[Interpol notice|Red Corner notice]] against Harmeet. He was later murdered in Pakistan in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pro-Khalistan leader's murder in Pak: Harmeet Singh killed by lover's relatives |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/pro-khalistan-leader-harmeet-singh-killed-pakistan-1642636-2020-02-02 |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-28 |title=Top Khalistani leader 'Happy PhD' killed near Lahore: Officials |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/top-khalistani-leader-may-have-been-killed-near-lahore-officials/story-xYDHVR765HwVGtL6Npwf7K.html |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Arrest of Jagtar Singh Johal|Jagtar Singh Johal]] ([[Pseudonym|alias]] Jaggi), from Rama Mandi in Jalandhar, was arrested on 4 November 2017 by the [[Punjab Police (India)|Punjab Police]], who accused him of the attacks. Jaggi is a non-resident Indian residing in [[Dumbarton]] and allegedly ran a website named 'Never Forget 1984'. He is accused of radicalising people and providing weapons to carry out the attacks.<ref name="a">{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/targeted-killings-in-punjab-uk-resident-johal-was-on-police-radar-for-a-year/story-2hxtp6Knu5SSZ2sguuNTPM.html |title=Targeted killings in Punjab: UK resident Johal was on police radar for a year | punjab | top |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=2016-04-22 |accessdate=2018-05-21}}</ref>
* Hardeep Singh (alias Harman, alias Shera) accused on 12 November 2017 of being one of the shooters in the assassinations, was arrested by police after a massive manhunt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/bushy-brows-lion-tattoo-on-chest-did-shera-in/496741.html |title=Bushy brows, lion tattoo on chest did Shera in |publisher=Tribuneindia.com |date=2017-11-13 |accessdate=2018-05-21}}</ref> He was accused of being involved in 6 killings and 2 attempted killings. In his first 2 attacks he missed his shot. After he trained and became "perfect" in shooting. After each kill he would flee the country.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Tribune News |title=Shera involved in 7 killings: Cops |url=https://m.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/punjab/shera-involved-in-7-killings-cops-495844 |access-date=2023-06-09 |website=Tribuneindia News Service |language=en}}</ref>
* Ramandeep Singh (alias Bagga, alias Canadian) was accused of being the second shooter in the killings.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Tribune News |title=15 chargesheeted in Gosain murder case |url=https://m.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/punjab/15-chargesheeted-in-gosain-murder-case-584499 |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Tribuneindia News Service |language=en}}</ref>
* Gursharanbir Singh, a British national, described as the mastermind of the attacks has been declared a [[fugitive|proclaimed offender]].<ref name="o">{{cite web|last=Nanjappa |first=Vicky |url=https://www.oneindia.com/india/how-a-british-national-is-orchestrating-the-murder-of-hindus-in-punjab-2599226.html |title=How a British national is orchestrating the murder of Hindus in Punjab - Oneindia News |publisher=Oneindia.com |date=2017-12-10 |accessdate=2018-05-21}}</ref><ref name=t>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/nia-files-chargesheet-in-pastor-rss-leader-s-killings/589386.html |title=NIA files chargesheet in pastor, RSS leader's killings |publisher=Tribuneindia.com |date=2018-05-15 |accessdate=2018-05-21}}</ref> He is one of the accused in the murder of Rulda Singh, president of the [[Rashtriya Sikh Sangat]], in 2009.<ref name="toi">{{cite web|url=http://www.timesnownews.com/india/video/punjab-inter-service-intelligence-isi-khalistan-pakistan-hindu-sikh-leaders-times-now/142211 |title=ISI's dark secret REVEALED: 'Kill RSS leaders in Punjab to instigate Hindu-Sikh riots' |publisher=Timesnownews.com |date= 8 December 2017|accessdate=2018-05-21}}</ref> The Crown Prosecution Service in the UK has stated that the evidence presented by the Indian authorities is "not sufficient to make out a case to answer".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/uk-court-discharges-3-british-sikhs-arrested-on-suspicion-of-murder-in-india-314765|title=UK court discharges 3 British-Sikhs arrested on suspicion of murder in India|first=Tribune News|last=Service|website=Tribuneindia News Service}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Punjab|Crime|India
}}

* [[Indo-Canadian organized crime]]
* [[Insurgency in Punjab]]
* [[Khalistan movement]]
* [[List of terrorist incidents in Punjab, India]]
* [[Organised crime in India]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Cite web|title=RSS leader's murder in Ludhiana|url=https://theprint.in/report/rss-leader-murder-ludhiana-cops-clueless/12785/|website=[[ThePrint]]|date=17 October 2017 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2016-17 Targeted killings in Punjab, India}}
[[Category:Terrorism in India]]
[[Category:Khalistan movement]]
[[Category:Sikh terrorism in India]]
[[Category:Crime in Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Victims of Sikh terrorism]]
[[Category:2016 murders in India]]
[[Category:2017 murders in India]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in India in 2016]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in India in 2017]]

2016 17 targeted killings in Punjab India-261770 - Revision history

Kishore121 at 02:43, 9 January 2026