Juvenile among two held for pro-Khalistan graffitti in Amritsar

The Amritsar Commissionerate Police has solved the pro-Khalistan graffiti case reported during the night of August 6-7 outside a prominent educational institute, district courts and a temple in the city, said the Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, on Friday.

According to the police, two accused, including a minor and both residents of Dargabad village in Batala, have been apprehended within 24 hours of the incident.

Banned pro-Khalistani organisation ‘Sikhs For Justice’, headed by designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu based in US, had claimed the responsibility in a video message uploaded on social media.

“In a major breakthrough, Amritsar Commissionerate Police cracks the Pro-Khalistan Graffiti case reported on the night of August 6-7 at three locations in the city. Two accused, including a minor—both residents of Dargabad village, Batala—have been apprehended within 24 hours,” said DGP Punjab Gaurav Yadav in a social media post on Friday.

Pro-Khalistan slogans had appeared at three locations: outside Khalsa College, on the boundary walls of district court and outside a temple in the city on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday.

Those arrested were identified as Jashanpreet Singh (22 and a 17-year-old juvenile.

As per the preliminary investigation, the accused were in contact with foreign-based Shamsher Singh alias Shera Maan, who allegedly directed them to carry out the act on the instructions of Gurpatwant Pannu.

Police said the graffiti was executed after the accused received instructions and designs via Snapchat, though the promised payment was never made.

Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said three separate FIRs have been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Defacement of Property Act at Police Stations— Contonment, Division-A and Civil Lines.

Pannu has also given a call to stop Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann from hoisting the national flag on Independence Day.