Khalistan Zindabad slogans written inside the sleeper coach of the train near the toilet area. This video has been released by terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Inset shows file photo of PM Modi.
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Punjab visit, a video from Firozpur Cantt railway station has surfaced. The video was released by the banned separatist organisation Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). In the video, slogans like “Khalistan Zindabad” and “Modi Murdabad” can be seen written on the coaches of a train going to Delhi.
SFJ terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun released the video and referred to the legacy of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who worked during Punjab’s militancy period, while raising alleged fake encounter cases. However, Dainik Bhaskar has not verified Pannun’s video.
A film based on Jaswant Singh Khalra, titled Satluj and starring Diljit Dosanjh, was removed from OTT platforms on the second day of its release and has now been completely banned.
After the video surfaced, intelligence agencies are examining CCTV footage from cameras installed on the station premises. Police are trying to identify those who wrote these slogans on the train coaches under the cover of darkness. A high alert has been issued across the area.
PM Modi’s proposed visits to Ludhiana and Jalandhar are scheduled for July 15 and 17. He may visit on either of the two days. He is expected to inaugurate the newly built building of Jalandhar Cantt railway station. On the same day, he may also inaugurate four projects in Chandigarh.
Terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun raised alleged encounter cases while mentioning the legacy of Jaswant Singh Khalra.
Know about Jaswant Singh Khalra, whose name was mentioned by Pannun
Jaswant Singh Khalra was a director at the Amritsar Central Cooperative Bank. He was also associated with the Human Rights Wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal. One day, his colleague and bank employee Pyara Singh suddenly went missing. While searching for him, Jaswant reached a cremation ground, where he discovered that a large number of bodies were being cremated as “unclaimed”.
When he investigated further, he uncovered alleged instances of fake police encounters. Following this, Jaswant and his associate J.S. Dhillon, who was also associated with the Shiromani Akali Dal’s Human Rights Wing, prepared a press note in 1995. The press note was released on January 16, 1995, with the headline: “DISAPPEARED CREMATION GROUNDS.”
It stated: “Police in Amritsar and nearby districts regularly took bodies to cremation grounds, where they were cremated after being declared unclaimed. Around 400 unclaimed bodies were cremated at the Patti Municipal Cremation Ground. The bodies were brought from villages like Khalra, located 40 km away, Kairon (10 km away), Harike (15 km away), and Valtoha (30 km away).”
It further stated: “Around 700 unclaimed bodies were brought to the Tarn Taran Municipal Cremation Ground. The only record of these bodies was the receipt book, which mentioned the wood used for cremation. The dates and number of bodies cremated were recorded in the receipt book.”
The press note also claimed: “From June 1, 1984, to the end of 1994, around 2,000 bodies were cremated as unclaimed in Amritsar. The highest number, around 900 unclaimed bodies, were brought to the cremation ground of Durgiana Temple.”
A few months after the release of this press note, Jaswant Singh Khalra disappeared from outside his home one day.
Know about Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) organisation…
- Demand for separate Khalistan, Pannun among founders: Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) is an organisation that advocates for a separate Khalistan state for Sikhs. It was founded in the US in 2007. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is one of the founders of SFJ. Under its separatist campaign called “Referendum 2020”, SFJ has been advocating for the separation of Punjab from India. In its London Declaration in August 2018, SFJ announced plans to hold a global referendum among Sikhs on whether Punjab should separate from India and be re-established as an independent country.
- Pakistan connection alleged, allowed to open office in Lahore: In 2018, Pakistan allowed SFJ to open an office in Lahore for “Referendum 2020” to facilitate voter registration and spread awareness among Sikhs about the campaign. Punjab Police has claimed that SFJ and “Referendum 2020” are backed by Pakistan. According to intelligence officials, SFJ’s websites share their domain with a website based in Karachi. Pannun had also issued a statement urging former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to support “Referendum 2020”. In the statement, he said that what could not be achieved in 1984 should be done now.
- SFJ banned in 2019, Pannun declared terrorist in 2020: Pannun is believed to be in contact with Babbar Khalsa International member Paramjit Singh Pamma and International Sikh Youth Federation member Malkit Singh Fauji, both based in the UK. In 2019, the Indian government banned SFJ under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly carrying out separatist activities. The Ministry of Home Affairs, in its notification, said SFJ was promoting separatism and extremist ideology in Punjab under the guise of a Sikh referendum, operating from safe locations abroad and receiving support from hostile countries.In 2020, Pannun was accused of promoting separatism and encouraging Punjabi Sikh youth to take up arms. Following this, the central government declared him a terrorist under the UAPA on July 1, 2020. In the same year, the government banned more than 40 web pages and YouTube channels linked to SFJ.
