Punjab Congress demands NHRC probe into black flag protester's alleged torture
Synopsis
A young protester waved a black flag at Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann's convoy — and allegedly ended up facing electric shocks in custody and a drug FIR that Congress calls fabricated. Punjab Congress chief Raja Warring has now written to the NHRC, turning a single act of dissent into a full-blown political confrontation over civil liberties under the AAP government.
Key Takeaways
Mohanjit Singh Sidhu was detained after waving a black flag at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's convoy in Punjab.
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring alleged Sidhu was subjected to electric shocks and forcible drug administration in police custody.
Warring wrote to the NHRC chairperson on 4 September , demanding an independent probe into the alleged custodial torture.
Punjab Police registered an FIR against Sidhu for alleged drug consumption; Congress termed it a 'fabricated FIR.' Congress CLP leader Partap Singh Bajwa met Sidhu on Friday; a large Congress protest is planned for 8 September against AAP governance.
Dates for Rahul Gandhi's proposed Punjab visit are being finalised, according to Warring.
Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, president of the Punjab unit of the Indian National Congress (INC), on Friday, 4 September condemned the detention and alleged torture of Mohanjit Singh Sidhu, a protester who had waved a black flag at Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's convoy as a mark of dissent against the state government.
What Allegedly Happened to Sidhu
According to Raja Warring, Sidhu was arrested after the black-flag incident and subsequently subjected to brutal treatment in police custody, including alleged electric shocks. Warring further alleged that police personnel forcibly administered drugs to Sidhu and then conducted a dope test, which returned positive. The Punjab Police has since registered a first information report (FIR) against Sidhu for allegedly consuming drugs — a case Warring described as a 'fabricated FIR' designed to criminalise the protester.
Congress Writes to NHRC
Raja Warring said he had written to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairperson, urging an independent investigation into the alleged custodial torture. In his letter, he demanded that all police personnel responsible for the alleged torture and the fabricated FIR be 'severely dealt with.' He characterised the incident as emblematic of 'police brutality and barbarity' under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government led by Chief Minister Mann.
Sharp Political Attack on CM Mann
In a pointed political broadside, Warring accused Chief Minister Mann of behaving like Ahmed Shah Abdali, alleging that Mann appeared to believe 'he was to rule forever.' The Congress MP from Ludhiana said the party stands firmly by Sidhu. He confirmed that Congress Legislative Party leader Partap Singh Bajwa had already met Sidhu on Friday, and that Warring himself intended to visit him later in the day.
Upcoming Protest and Rahul Gandhi's Punjab Visit
Raja Warring announced that the Congress will hold a large-scale protest on 8 September against what he called rampant corruption by the AAP government, which, he alleged, 'had crossed all limits.' On the question of senior party leader Rahul Gandhi's proposed visit to Punjab, Warring said dates are being finalised and will be announced shortly. The protest and the proposed Gandhi visit together signal an intensifying Congress push to corner the AAP administration in the state ahead of any political cycle.
Point of View
Because it follows a well-documented playbook of custodial framing that courts have repeatedly flagged. The NHRC complaint elevates this from a local law-and-order story to a human rights question — and Congress knows that. What the mainstream coverage is missing is that this is not just a political spat; it is a test of whether Punjab's police accountability mechanisms function independently of the ruling party, whichever that party happens to be.
NationPress
4 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mohanjit Singh Sidhu and why was he detained?
Mohanjit Singh Sidhu is a protester who was detained after waving a black flag at Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's convoy as a mark of dissent against the state government. He was subsequently arrested, and Punjab Police later filed an FIR against him for alleged drug consumption.
What did Punjab Congress chief Raja Warring allege about Sidhu's treatment in custody?
Warring alleged that Sidhu was brutally tortured in police custody, including being subjected to electric shocks. He further alleged that police forcibly administered drugs to Sidhu before conducting a dope test that returned positive — the basis of what Warring called a 'fabricated FIR.'
Why did Congress write to the NHRC?
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring wrote to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairperson on 4 September, urging an independent investigation into the alleged custodial torture of Sidhu and demanding strict action against the police personnel responsible.
What protest has Congress announced in response to the incident?
Congress has announced a large-scale protest on 8 September against what it described as rampant corruption by the AAP government in Punjab. The protest is part of a broader Congress campaign to hold the Mann administration accountable.
What is the status of Rahul Gandhi's proposed visit to Punjab?
According to Warring, the dates for Rahul Gandhi's proposed visit to Punjab are being finalised and will be announced soon. The visit is expected to coincide with the party's intensified political campaign against the AAP government in the state.
