Chandigarh:The Punjab Police on Friday busted a secessionist module of the banned organisation Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and arrested its three members. They recovered over 2 lakh secessionist pamphlets during a raid conducted at Rampur village in Ludhiana's Khanna.
Those arrested have been identified as Gurwinder Singh of Rampur, Jagwinder Singh and Sukhdev Singh, both residents of Morinda in Ropar. The police have also booked Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, Harpreet Singh, Bikramjeet Singh and Gursahai Makhu, all based in the US, and Jagjeet Singh Mangat of Khanna.
SFJ was banned by the Indian government in July 2019 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for its involvement in promoting secessionist tendencies as well as violent militancy in Punjab as well as Sikh Referendum 2020. Their activities were aimed at creating a divide between communities and disturbing the peace and communal harmony in Punjab.
The police also recovered a printer, spray pump and spray bottles that were used in writing secessionist graffiti on walls, a laptop, three mobile phones and one a sedan four-wheeler from their possession.
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"During preliminary investigations, it has been found that one of the accused, Gurwinder Singh, was radicalised by Youtube channel 'US Media International' operated by JS Dhaliwal, who further introduced him to Gurpatwant Pannu," the police spokesman said. On the instructions of Pannu, Gurwinder installed Khalistani flags on the premises of a government school in Rampur, the spokesman said.