Khalistan Zindabad Force

Monday, 20 March 2023

The movement continued through the 1970s and 1980s, reaching its zenith in the late 1980s. The violent campaign included bombings, assassinations, kidnappings, and selective killing and massacres of civilians. The movement resulted in nearly 22,000 deaths of Sikhs and Hindus alike, including approximately 12,000 civilians.

The Khalistan movement was allegedly supported by Pakistan to cause internal unrest in India. In response to recent unrest in the Punjab region, a congregation of the Sikh community was called in November 2015. The Sarbat Khalsa adopted 13 resolutions to strengthen Sikh institutions and traditions.

The 12th resolution reaffirmed the resolutions adopted by the Sarbat Khalsa held at Amritsar on April 29, 1986. It demanded that those responsible for Operation Blue Star be brought to justice.

Today, Punjab has long been peaceful but there are still some groups advocating for Khalistan. For example, Khalistan Zindabad Force is allegedly trying to smuggle arms across the border with Pakistan. However, most Sikhs have turned against militants as violence took its toll on both Sikhs and Hindus alike.

The Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) is a militant group that is part of the Khalistan movement to create a separate Sikh homeland called Khalistan by carving Punjab and some parts of neighbouring states out of Indian union. The KZF aims to establish a 'sovereign Khalistan state'. The exact cadre strength and organizational structure of the KZF are not known, but it is largely comprised of Jammu-based Sikhs. The strength and striking capabilities of the KZF are currently unknown, but attempts have been made for the KZF and other militant groups from Kashmir to coordinate their efforts.

The KZF remains banned in India and the European Union. It has close links with several terrorist groups active in Jammu and Kashmir, including the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM)[2]. The outfit is also reported to have operated from Nepal in the past. In 2020, non-bailable warrants were issued against Pakistan-based KZF chairperson Ranjeet Singh Neeta and Germany-based Gurmeet Singh by a special court of National Investigation Agency (NIA) India in Mohali, Punjab.

Several news articles report on recent arrests made by anti-terror squads related to members or operatives associated with Khalistan Zindabad Force. For instance, in March 2023, an operative was arrested from Uttar Pradesh. In May 2020, NIA filed a charge sheet against nine Khalistani terrorists in Punjab drone arms drop case. The case relates to information that Pakistan-based chief of KZF Ranjeet Singh in connivance with Gurmeet Singh smuggled arms and ammunition into India using drones.