Anonymous, pre-recorded phone call from a suspected US number was received by a news channel in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. In this call, the Punjab CM was accused of betraying the Sikhs and the Khalistan movement. The caller was suspected to have links with Khalistan groups as he spoke about “Operation Blue Star” and also mentioned “Referendum-2020”. Another similar pre-recorded call mentioning “pro-Khalistan” objectives was received in Haryana from a US number.
According to intelligence agencies, these calls are seen as a novel strategy to propagate Referendum-2020 by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and its affiliates. Social media platforms were used to direct these calls to most journalists and advocates. Such calls are suspected to have been received due to the decrease in the number of television channels spreading SFJ’s ideology due to the Covid-19 restrictions. Recently, around 40 websites belonging to SFJ were blocked by the government for supporting secessionist activities.
Another input received by the intelligence agencies reveals that at the behest of Pakistan’s agency, a UK-based fraction of Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) was planning to target former senior Punjab police officer, an advocate and their family members.
After the death of Harmeet Singh early this year, and due to the absence of a consensus on the next KLF chief, a UK-based individual is running a Pro-Khalistani YouTube channel and is attempting to prove his capabilities for a larger share in funds and drugs business. Khalistan supporters within the Sikh community in Canada were also reported to be of the view to avenge Singh’s death by targeting government officials in India.