Who Are the Three Operatives of 'Sikhs for Justice' Apprehended by Punjab Police?
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Key Takeaways
Chandigarh, Oct 31 (NationPress) The Punjab Police successfully detained three individuals associated with the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) for inscribing pro-Khalistan slogans on school walls in Punjab, according to Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav.
The New York-based SFJ is led by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual US-Canadian citizen labeled a terrorist by the Indian government. The arrested suspects have been identified as Navjot Singh, also known as Jota (24), and Gurpreet Singh (26), both from Kaliaewala village in Ferozepur; along with Harjinder Singh, a resident of Mananwala in Bathinda.
The police recovered four mobile phones and a dongle from their possession.
Reports indicate that pro-Khalistani slogans were discovered on the walls of two schools, including one located in Mananwala village, during the night of October 19-20.
DGP Yadav stated that initial investigations suggest the accused painted inflammatory slogans intended to provoke public unrest and foster anti-national feelings.
Evidence points to their receipt of foreign funding for these illegal activities, he added.
In a prompt response, the police acted decisively to ensure that no anti-national actions go unpunished. DGP Yadav noted that the Counter Intelligence unit of Bathinda and the Bathinda Police collaborated on the investigation, employing professional and scientific methods to bring the offenders to justice.
Detailing the operations, Senior Superintendent of Police (Bathinda) Amneet Kondal mentioned that police teams, following technical leads, managed to arrest the two main suspects—Navjot and Gurpreet Singh—who were responsible for the slogans at the PM Kendriya Vidyalaya in Bhissiana village.
Furthermore, investigations led to the capture of Harjinder Singh, who inscribed slogans on the wall of a school in Mananwala village.
The SSP disclosed that during interrogation, the suspects admitted to writing the slogans under the direction of a foreign-based individual named Pawanpreet Singh, also known as Deep Chahal, who is a close associate of Pannun, in exchange for money.
Assistant Inspector General Avneet Kaur Sidhu added that Harjinder revealed that Navjot introduced him to Pawanpreet, who instructed him to write the slogan for a payment of Rs 2,000.