Pro-Khalistani slogans were discovered on the pillars of Delhi Metro stations on Sunday, prompting an investigation by the police. The slogans were spotted at Karol Bagh and Jhandewalan Metro Stations, news agency ANI reported. 


Reportedly, the slogans were inscribed by the supporters of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), a banned Sikh separatist group based in the United States. The Delhi Police have filed a First Information Report (FIR), and they have obtained CCTV footage from the Delhi Metro authorities covering the two metro stations, the ANI report said. 


As per the report, a security guard stationed at a building near the Karol Bagh Metro station noticed the black pint writing on the metro station pillars upon arriving for duty on Sunday morning. 


"I came to duty at 8 am and saw that something was written in black colour on the pillars of the metro station. A huge crowd had gathered there and was reading the slogans," said Bajrangi, the security guard, speaking to ANI. 


"These slogans may have been written at night because no one was there at that time and no one saw who wrote these slogans," he added. 


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A Look At Previous Similar Incidents


In a similar incident in January this year, the Delhi Police had arrested a man for his alleged involvement in marking pro-Khalistani graffiti on walls of Delhi's Tilak Nagar area. 


Last August, the Delhi Police Special Cell detained two persons from Punjab in connection with pro-Khalistan graffiti and slogans painted at over five metro stations in Delhi. 


Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) criminalises and penalises making statements, speeches, or acts that disturb public tranquility or law and order by promoting enmity or creating fear or alarm between classes of people based on differences in religion, caste, language or place of birth. 


On the other hand, Section 505 of the IPC criminalises making statements, reports, or rumours that encourage members of the armed forces or a police officer to refuse to perform their duty, encourage a person to commit offences against the state, or disturb public tranquility, and incite persons to disturb public tranquility, and incite persons to disturb public tranquility. 


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