Delhi Police's Special Cell has arrested a youth from Haryana in connection with pro-Khalistan graffiti that was found on a flyover, almost after two months, reported PTI citing sources. The youth, identified as Malak Singh, is suspected of having painted graffiti in Delhi and other parts of India at the behest of Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, the chief of the banned outfit Sikhs for Justice, the sources added.
They added that raids are also underway in Punjab, reported the agency. The police had registered an FIR in the case on September 27 after pro-Khalistan and anti-India slogans were found on the Kashmere Gate flyover.
The incident had taken place at a time when Canada and India were going through diplomatic tensions over the killing of Khalistani sympathiser Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had blamed India for Nijjar’s killing on Canadian soil.
However, incidents of public buildings being defaced with pro-Khalistan slogans had been taking place before the row erupted.
In August this year, ahead of the G20 Summit, anti-India slogans were seen written on some of the metro stations in Delhi. Over five metro stations in the national capital were defaced with anti-India slogans, believed to have been done by pro-Khalistan proscribed outfit, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ).
“Modi India committed genocide of Sikhs”, “Delhi Bannyga Khalistan” (Delhi will become Khalistan), and “Khalistan Referendum Zindabad” were some of the slogans that appeared on the metro stations in the city. An FIR was registered in connection with the case.
In June this year, similar slogans were seen written on the walls of a Session Judge's residence in Punjab's Faridkot. A video was pointed out by Superintendent of Police Avneet Kaur Sidhu pertaining to the matter released by SFJ general counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.