Mass threats of Sikh genocide reemerge after Hindu hate preacher assassinated

Extremist Hindu leader and fanatical Indian nationalist Sudhir Suri was assassinated last week (4.11.22) by a Sikh man, leading to a wave of genocidal threats against Sikhs from Indians.

Suri was a leading figure of Shiv Sena, an extremist Hindu organisation and ultranationalist Indian group that are linked with various acts of violence including the mass murder of Muslims. Suri, who had once made a video threatening to wipeout Sikhs, was shot dead in Amritsar (Punjab) last Friday, whilst leading a demonstration – protected by armed police – claiming anti-Hindu acts were being carried out in the city.

Immediately after the assassination, threats to massacre Sikhs were made en masse both online and recorded in person openly on TV. One attack on a young Sikh man was captured on video (see below). That these threats came during a period of #SikhGenocide remembrance has caused even more concern and tension among Sikhs, although similar threats are regularly made by Hindu extremists throughout the year.

Despite being well-known for spreading divisive bigotry mainly aimed at India’s minorities, Indian establishment organisations quickly worked to appease and win favour with India’s huge ultranationalist and Hindutva (Hindu extremist) community, by designating him an official “martyr”, whilst his family will also receive a payout.

Suri was killed by a Sikh man identified as Sandeep Singh. Singh’s act has not been confirmed to be linked to any specific movement or group as of yet. Many believe that Suri’s threats against Sikhs and constant attempts to whip-up anti-Sikh sentiment in India will have played a role in Singh’s decision to kill him. However, Shiv Sena are also known to have significant presence in India’s underworld, resulting them getting into conflicts with other criminal gangs unaffiliated to any specific faith. Theories this is behind Suri’s killing have particularly taken-off after a well-known gangster claimed responsibility for the shooting.

Many Sikh groups have highlighted how Hindu extremist and Indian nationalist groups are often given police protection as they propagate their bigotry and carry out violence, leaving no option for opposers to stop Shiv Sena’s criminal actions through the law. Authorities also placed young Sikh leader Bhai Amritpal Singh under house-arrest in response, although this is said to have been done based on a belief Bhai Amritpal Singh may be in danger from Hindu extremists, rather than any belief he was part of the assassination.

Sikh reaction to the incident has included many celebrating Sandeep Singh’s act, as it strikes against the notorious Hindu extremism sentiment which attacks minorities of India under the protection of a fascist government. There is also precedent in Sikh history of assassination of tyrannical figures which are celebrated.

Investigations into the assassination continue, with Sandeep Singh still under arrest.