Intelligence agencies have issued a high alert across Punjab ahead of Independence Day on 15 August, warning that pro-Khalistan elements are actively planning strikes and a coordinated propaganda offensive timed to coincide with India's national celebrations. The alert, flagged by officials on 8 August, identifies the banned outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and affiliated terror networks as the primary threat vectors.

Strike Plans and the August 15 Symbolism

According to an Intelligence Bureau official, Khalistani groups have been planning attacks in several parts of Punjab for some time, but are specifically seeking to time any strike on 15 August to maximise symbolic impact. 'They would not mind even if the attack is smaller in nature, but they want to send out a message when India celebrates Independence Day,' the official said.

Officials note that the intent is not necessarily to cause mass casualties but to generate a propaganda moment — a calculated bet on optics over operational scale. This marks a tactical shift that security analysts have observed in similar movements globally, where symbolism increasingly drives operational timing.

SFJ Chief's Online Campaign

Gurpatwant Singh, chief of the proscribed Sikhs for Justice, has stepped up activity on social media in recent weeks. According to officials, Singh has been urging Punjab's youth to hoist Khalistan flags on schools and other public buildings, and to characterise 15 August as a 'dark day.' He has also called for large-scale protests against the Indian state and is reportedly running hate campaigns that, in the past, have included calls for attacks inside India and smear campaigns targeting senior government figures.

Intelligence agencies are closely monitoring SFJ's online output, which officials say is focused on pushing pro-Khalistan content, recruitment messaging, and calls for a separate Khalistan nation carved out of India's Punjab.

Ground-Level Incidents and Cross-Border Dimensions

The alert follows a concrete incident earlier this week, when pro-Khalistan slogans — reading 'Khalistan Zindabad' — were found painted on the walls of a government middle school in Kotla Heran village in Punjab. Police responded swiftly and erased the slogans. Officials say similar acts are being planned in Canada and the United Kingdom on 15 August, aimed at drowning out India's Independence Day narrative abroad.

The push comes amid a broader ISI-backed effort to revive the Khalistan movement at a time when gangster-terror networks have faced sustained crackdowns in both India and Canada. With their operational space shrinking, these groups have reportedly attempted to relocate activities to Malaysia and Azerbaijan. Malaysia, however, has taken a firm stance — in June this year, it deported members of the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) to India.

Security Assessment and What Comes Next

Officials describe the current moment as critical in the long-running battle against the Khalistan movement. 'They have become desperate; their backers, the ISI, are getting edgy, and hence the chances of them indulging in a massive misadventure cannot be ruled out,' an official said. Security forces have been placed on heightened alert, and a close watch is being maintained on SFJ's digital operations as well as any mobilisation on the ground in Punjab ahead of 15 August.