Over the past decade (2016-2025), a disturbing pattern of targeted violence has emerged in Punjab, with Hindu citizens increasingly becoming victims of separatist elements. These brutal killings, often downplayed or ignored by mainstream narratives, paint a grim picture of escalating extremism that threatens the very fabric of communal harmony and raises urgent questions about the safety and security of the Hindu minority in the state. The rising body count points to a sinister agenda to destabilise Punjab and silence dissenting voices, reminiscent of darker times.
This report compiles 10 significant incidents of violence targeting Hindus by Punjab separatist elements, occurring between 2016 and 2025.
Three Babbar Khalsa International terrorists arrested in Shiv Sena leader’s murder
In a shocking act of violence, Mangat Rai Manga, the district president of Shiv Sena, was fatally shot by three motorcycle-borne assailants in Moga district, Punjab. The attack, believed to be a result of long-standing rivalry, also left two other individuals, including an 11-year-old boy, injured.
Swift action by the Punjab Police led to the arrest of three individuals suspected of involvement in the murder. Police investigations indicate that the arrested accused were operating under the direct instructions of Harwinder Rinda, the chief ideologue of the Pakistan-backed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), a prominent Punjab separatist group.
Gwalior Murder Case: Two shooters from Punjab separatist Arshdeep Dalla’s gang arrested
Jaswant Singh was tragically shot dead outside his residence in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. Following the incident, authorities in Canada detained Punjab separatist Arshdeep Dalla, suspected of orchestrating the crime. In India, two alleged shooters from Dalla’s criminal network, Navjot Singh and Anmolpreet Singh, were apprehended. During their arrest, police recovered pistols manufactured in Australia and China, along with mobile phones possessing foreign IMEI numbers, suggesting international links to the module.
VHP leader’s assassination: Babbar Khalsa International module exposed in international conspiracy
Vikas Prabhakar, also known as Vikas Bagga, a prominent leader of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), was tragically shot dead by terrorists from a Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) module at his sweet shop.
The subsequent investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has unearthed a sophisticated international conspiracy. The plot involved BKI operatives based in Pakistan, Germany, and Dubai. According to the NIA, Wadhawa Singh orchestrated the assassination, instructing Harjeet Singh and Kulbir Singh (both based in Germany) to provide the necessary weapons, ammunition, and funds to the assailants. While three accused – Mandeep Kumar, Surinder Kumar, and Gurpreet Ram – have been apprehended, Wadhawa Singh, Harjeet Singh, and Kulbir Singh currently remain at large.
Congress leader assassinated in Punjab home; separatist Arsh Dalla claims responsibility
In a brazen attack, local Congress leader Baljinder Singh Bali was fatally shot inside his home by two motorcycle-borne assailants. In a chilling development, notorious Punjab separatist Arsh Dalla quickly claimed responsibility for the assassination. Dalla reportedly asserted that Bali had “ruined his future” and “forced him to become a gangster,” a claim widely seen as a thinly veiled justification for targeted violence.
Hindu leader Sudhir Suri shot dead in Punjab; Khalistani sympathizer arrested
Sudhir Suri, a prominent Hindu leader, was brutally gunned down outside the Gopal Mandir in Amritsar by Sandeep Singh Sunny. Suri had been a known target of Khalistani sympathizers, with previous plots against his life originating from abroad. Police promptly arrested the assailant, Sandeep Singh. Disturbingly, the car he used in the attack prominently displayed a Khalistani sticker, further fueling concerns about the escalating threat from separatist elements.
Ravinder Gosain murder case: Accused linked to Khalistani organisations
Ravinder Gosain, a prominent RSS leader, was tragically shot dead near his home in Ludhiana, Punjab. This assassination was linked to a larger network of extremist activities.
Earlier, on September 26, 2017, Punjab Police had apprehended seven militants from Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), recovering three pistols and 33 live cartridges from their possession. During interrogation, these militants confessed that their targets included several anti-Khalistan Hindu leaders, shedding light on the broader conspiracy behind such attacks.
RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja assassinated: Dashmesh Regiment claims responsibility
Retired Brigadier Jagdish Gagneja, the vice-chief of the Punjab unit of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), was brutally gunned down on August 6, 2017. Following the brazen murder, a senior figure identified as Rajinder Singh Zinda from the Dashmesh Regiment claimed responsibility. This claim was made via emails sent to various media houses, including PTI, asserting responsibility for the assassination.
Khalistan Liberation Force behind murders of two Shiv Sena leaders in Punjab
In a horrific act of violence, Satpal Sharma and his son, Ramesh Sharma, both followers of Dera Sacha Sauda, were shot dead by activists of the terrorist group Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) in the Jagera area of Ludhiana. The attack took place at a ‘Naam Charcha Ghar’. According to the NIA, Satpal Sharma’s murder was part of an international conspiracy orchestrated by the senior leadership of the KLF.
Amit Sharma murder case: Khalistan Liberation Front orchestrated the assassination
On January 14, 2017, Amit Sharma, a prominent Hindu leader and Shri Hindu Takht president, was assassinated by two unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants. The anti-terror agency confirmed that the terrorist organization Khalistan Liberation Front (KLF) had orchestrated this murder. Three accused, identified as Ashish Kumar, Javed, and Arshad Ali, all residents of Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, have been named in the chargesheet and presented before a special NIA court.
Shiv Sena leader Durga Gupta murdered; Hardeep Singh Shera arrested
Durga Gupta, the vice-president of Shiv Sena’s Punjab unit, was murdered in Khanna, Ludhiana, on April 23, 2016. Police swiftly arrested the sharp shooter, Hardeep Singh Shera, along with his associates, in connection with the assassination. Investigations revealed their strong links to Khalistani elements.
The incidents documented from 2016 to 2025 paint a deeply concerning picture of resurgent violence orchestrated by Punjab separatist elements, primarily targeting Hindu leaders and individuals. The pattern reveals a shift from isolated events to what appears to be a more organised and insidious campaign.
The murders of figures like Shiv Sena’s Mangat Rai Manga, VHP leader Vikas Prabhakar, Congress leader Baljinder Singh Bali, and Hindu leader Sudhir Suri, along with RSS leaders Ravinder Gosain and Jagdish Gagneja, underscore a deliberate targeting. Investigations by agencies like the NIA have frequently exposed international conspiracies involving Pakistan-backed groups like Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), with operatives even being traced to countries like Canada, Germany, and Dubai.
