Punjab Police arrest two SFJ operatives for writing "Boycott Air India" slogans

"Punjab Police have arrested two operatives of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) for writing anti-national slogans at public places in Punjab and adjoining states," said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Monday.

The slogans were written in Punjab, Himachal, and Rajasthan. The masterminds behind the slogans were Gurpatwant Pannu and Jagjeet Singh of SFJ in New York.

A New York-based SFJ-- backed by mastermind Gurpatwant Singh Pannu and Jagjeet Singh-- is designated as an unlawful association by the Indian Government. Recently, slogans including Boycott Air India, Khalistan Zindabad and SFJ Zindabad were seen at various places in district Bathinda during Independence Day, Dharmshala in Himachal Pradesh during Cricket World Cup match, Hanumangarh Railway Station in Rajasthan and Gurupurab in District Amritsar, the Information And Public Relations Department of Punjab stated.

Those arrested have been identified as Harmanpreet Singh of village Naseebpura in Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda and Lovepreet Singh of Kotshamir in Bathinda. The police have also recovered three cans of black spray, one flag of Khalistan and one motorcycle from their possession, it added.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that during questioning, the arrested persons confessed that they were working for the SFJ organisation and were in touch with an associate of SFJ Jagjit Singh, who used to send money to SFJ activists in India on behalf of Gurpatwant Pannu.

"Preliminary investigations have also revealed that both the arrested persons had received Rs 1,25,000 in various instalments through Western Union from the SFJ organisation to carry out these tasks," he said.

Sharing more details, AIG Counter Intelligence Bathinda Avneet Kaur Sidhu said that following reliable inputs about the movement of two persons linked with SFJ, police teams from Counter Intelligence Bathinda laid a special naka at Bathinda-Badal road near Nanhi Chahn Chowk and arrested both the accused persons when they were travelling on their motorcycle.

Further investigations are on.

A case FIR No 233 dated 03/12/23 has been registered under sections 153, 153A, 505 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Police Station Canal Colony Bathinda. (ANI)