The Delhi Police has launched an investigation into the pro-Khalistani graffiti that emerged on the walls of at least five metro stations within the city on Sunday morning.
Authorities have reported that slogans supportive of the Khalistani movement appeared on the walls of five metro stations along the Green Line of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in the outer parts of Delhi. These stations include Shivaji Park, Maadipur, Pashim Vihar, and Nangloi.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Metro) G Ram Gopal Naik stated that they are in the process of filing a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and other applicable laws regarding this incident.
DCP Naik mentioned, “We are initiating a case and forming teams to identify and apprehend the individual responsible for painting such slogans on the walls. Stringent actions will be taken against them.”
These incidents have occurred at a time when the national capital is preparing to host the G20 leaders’ summit from September 8-10.
The offensive graffiti featured the name of the banned separatist group Sikh for Justice (SFJ), accompanied by slogans like “Delhi Banyga Khalistan” (Delhi will become Khalistan), “Khalistan Referendum Zindabad,” and “Modi’s India Committed Genocide of Sikhs.”
In a video circulating on social media, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of SFJ who is based abroad and evading Indian law enforcement, claimed responsibility for these incidents. In the video, he can be heard saying, “India, the battle of G-20 at Pragati Maidan has started today… the true Khalistanis have put slogans across Metro stations Delhi… and this is a message to all G-20 nations.”
A senior police official, familiar with the incident, mentioned that the graffiti was placed on the walls during the early hours of Sunday when the metro stations were closed. “We are reviewing CCTV footage to identify the suspects,” added the official.
This marks the second similar incident reported in the city this year. The previous occurrence was before the Republic Day celebrations in January when objectionable pro-Khalistan slogans such as “Khalistan Zindabad,” “SFJ,” “Vote For Khalistan,” and “Referendum 2020” appeared as graffiti on walls in around 10 locations including Vikaspuri, Janakpuri, Paschim Vihar, Peeragarhi, and other areas in West Delhi.
On that occasion, the city police registered a case of spreading false information, making statements prejudicial to national integration, and engaging in criminal conspiracy. Subsequently, the Delhi Police’s special cell apprehended two individuals responsible for the graffiti, who claimed that they were offered ₹2 lakh in exchange for their actions. They confessed that they carried out the act under the direction of SFJ, which took credit for the incident through a video released by Pannun.
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