Chaotic scenes of police violence met different protests across Punjab again this week, as unrest remains a staple of the Sikh homeland state under India’s governance.

Mansa, now a protest hotspot since a drug dealer’s broad daylight murder of local activist Parvinder Singh Jhota this month, saw mass demonstration spark up when a man was found by his family overdosed on drugs, underlining the crisis Jhota fought against. Daljit Singh’s family and his Bhamme Kalan villagers tried to take his body to the site of the nearby ongoing Jhota protest camp, but police forcibly took the body and also detained Daljit Singh’s father (27.10.26).

Scenes of Sikhs having their dastaars (Sikh turbans) torn off by officers in response to the protests about the farmer’s death went viral, adding to the global tension felt about Punjab’s precarity. Daljit Singh’s body was ultimately taken by police, as was his father who to date remains incarcerated. Police stated the body was taken for a postmortem based on the idea the death may have been foul play, such as poisoning through laced drugs. Meanwhile, the body of Jhota allegedly remains in a hospital crematorium. Both families have refused to sign off on the bodies being taken for further examination or cremated.

Respected grassroots Sikh Punjabi activists Lakha Sidhana and Bhana Sidhu were also detained in violent fashion during a paramilitary-style police raid of the Barnala-Sirsa/Mansa-Sirsa Road area where the protest camp is taking place. The two were targeted as the Daljit Singh protest spread across the district. Various other community leaders, political reps and media professionals have been targeted to quell the protest.

Concern for Sidhana was particularly high, given the unnecessary way he was specifically targeted and dragged away, with his whereabouts still unknown, although police state he is imprisoned on a four-day remand, which ends on 31st October. The arrest of Bhana Sidhu was equally dramatic but with a different ending, as Sidhu was ultimately freed from the police station he was taken to, and was given an armed Nihung Singh guard on the way out, where he seemed injured, with some suggestions saying he was being tortured whilst detained. Sidhu has previously spoken of facing police violence when detained during his various stands against police, including orchestrating tens of thousands to protest against corrupt immigration agencies exploiting Punjabis in 2023.

The Jhota protest continues, with demands from the family remaining that the Punjab Chief Minister and Police Chief both resign, amongst over a dozen more which aim to tackle Punjab’s drug crisis and the authorities corruptly facilitating it. Jhota’s father, having met Home Minister Amit Shah at his home last week, is now saying the committee in charge of leading demands for the family will now boycott any meetings with authorities until previously agreed actions are followed up on, whilst he has also demanded police stop targeting the activists supporting the Jhota demonstration. Strangely, India’s Home Office has since entailed personal security to remain with the family for protection.

In the latest incident from the area, one attending police officer was paraded around after being found to have heroin in his pocket, exposing the police-narco connection.

Simultaneously, two other protests also prompted yet more brutal police violence, with women being publicly abused by officers, in what is a regular sight in Punjab.

In Jahangir village of Sangrur, locals staged a sit-in protest (28.10.26) against the corporations behind the pollution crisis engulfing Punjab, leading to violent reprisal from police. In response, locals then surrounded the Sadar police station to force the release of the women imprisoned. One protester suggested the police were tasked to ensure filming was prevented, as they beat attendees who were standing against the air and water pollution from chemical factories in the area which have been linked to illnesses amongst locals.

Similarly, police reacted with extreme heavy-handedness to a Punjab Student Union (PSU) protest in Chandigarh (29.10.26) at the Punjab University campus. Students were protesting the presence of RSS (Hindu extremist paramilitary outfit, closely associated to leading nationalist party BJP) influence at the university, which includes deployment by police to act as goon enforcers against student dissent, and also within the university’s hierarchy, which is influencing decisions on everything from disciplinary action against students of a high-caste Hindu background, and also education on Punjabi and Sikh history and literature.

Learn more via the PSU page- (9+) Instagram.

The week of mass protests being met with police violence in Punjab has occurred just prior to the annual 31st Oct-3rd Nov Sikh Genocide remembrance period, when tens of thousands of Sikhs were murdered across India by Hindu mobs in 1984. Learn more- SikhPA.com/SikhGenocide84.

A noted UK-based Khalistan (free Sikh homeland) activist believes the Indian government assassinated his wife, who was also a community organiser and Sikh sovereignty advocate.

39-year-old mother Jasvir Kaur of West London (UK) died suddenly in May 2023, amid India’s now well documented anti-Sikh transnational assassination campaign. Her husband Gurcharan Singh, who has long been targeted by India for his activism, says she was poisoned, just like Shaheed (martyr) Bhai Avtar Singh Khanda was a month later.

As well as Jasvir Kaur and Bhai Avtar Singh Khanda, at least three other instances of Khalistan activists being targeted within that short period are now well documented. The shooting of Shaheed Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey (BC, Canada) in June 2023 is the most prominent case, with the USA and Canada officially citing Narendra Modi’s government’s role in it. A foiled attempt to kill Sikhs For Justice leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York and the killing of Paramjit Singh Panjwar in Pakistan are the other 2023 cases of Khalistan activists being targeted by India, although there are several other killings and attempted killings since, also linked to India’s anti-Sikh transnational repression campaign.

Gurcharan Singh has been the focus of a fake news campaign by Indian media for years, which saw him accused of attacking India’s High Commission building in 2023, two months before his wife was allegedly murdered. However, that accusation has since fallen flat in UK courts. Read more- Court halts India’s infamous High Commission protest “attack” case | SikhPA.

The death’s of Jasvir Kaur and Khanda are very similar, given they both went from completely healthy to bed-bound and then dying allegedly from cancer within a week. In both cases, families were unable to get satisfactory postmortem examinations.

Jasvir Kaur was herself already a cancer survivor, and by the time she passed, the cancer was no longer a concern at all, with Kaur living a completely normal and healthy lifestyle.

Backing up the idea Kaur was killed by the Indian government, one of the country’s most noted intelligence/national security authors recently publicly confirmed Indian agents had poisoned Khanda and also killed another in the UK too, although he did not name who. Read more- “Khanda was poisoned…India killed two in the UK…There’s no escape” | SikhPA.

Speaking to The Sikh Press Association on his wife’s death, Gurcharan Singh said:

“I know my wife and I were both targets of India, and I know I still am on their hit list.

“Lawrence Bishnoi himself has made a video against me, and now I have UK authorities confirmed the target on my back. This is because India knows they will not silence me. I have had to make private security arrangements for my safety, but this is the cost of freedom.

“My daily life has been turned upside down ever since my wife’s assassination, but my recent Crown Court victory against India shows I will not give in and crumble to this genocidal regime. That is not the Sikh way, and we know what it will take to establish Khalistan.”

With support of various Sikh organisations, Gurcharan Singh is now publicly calling for an investigation into his wife’s death, and subsequent UK government action against India.

Media inquiries- media@sikhpa.com

A much anticipated film on the life of Shaheed (martyr) Bhai Jaswant Singh Khalra was finally released last week, only for India to then ban it completely, leading to global public pirate screenings in Sikh communities ever since.

After years of anticipation, the film starring Punjabi celebrity megastar Diljit Dosanjh was finally released on 3rd July on Zee 5 in India and those who subscribe to the channel overseas. However, it was then removed from the platform on 5th July in India and then also became unavailable via the platform globally too within the following week.

Originally titled “Punjab ’95”, the film suffered over three-years of editing via demands from India’s film censor board before the release, demanding hundreds of edits to the film which is meant to depict the work of Khalra, a revered figure who exposed India’s police-orchestrated anti-Sikh genocide with studious investigation, only to be murdered himself for it in 1995. An open advocate for Khalistan (the free Sikh homeland movement), despite his heroism, Khalra is viewed as an enemy of India to many nationalists, as is evident from the social media response from various Indian nationalist commentators to the film. However, the film itself completely erased this Khalistani aspect of Khalra’s activism.

Zee 5 released a statement after they took the film down, obscurely blaming “current developments”, whilst also saying they are attempting to bring the film back to the platform, requesting audiences refuse piracy. No update has come since, and countless groups since arranged public viewings via unofficial methods of streaming the film.

The film’s initial reception when it was available to view saw both new interest and reaffirmed support for Khalra, possibly triggering the decision to pull the film. Sikh community groups across the globe responded to the censorship with events to screen the film. Viewings have been held across Punjab and wider India, as well as in major Sikh diaspora hotspots such as Southall (West London, UK), Smethwick (Midlands, UK), Melbourne (Australia), California (USA) and beyond, with countless more viewings being arranged too.

Perhaps further underlining why the film was pulled, the Khalra story is reinvigorating activism amongst Sikh communities too, with focus on India’s Sikh genocide on Punjab, which many say continues still, with several recent accusations of Punjab Police carrying out “fake encounter” murders of innocent civilians who are branded criminals or terrorists after their death. A mass gathering has been organised in Punjab for 14th July, within which the widow of Khalra has stated demands for “accountability” will be raised, which include a new inquiry and financial support from leading Sikh body the SGPC for impacted families. See her statement in full here.

Despite the pirate popularity of the film, there are still strong criticisms towards it from Sikh commentators concerned with it watering down the systemic nature of India’s genocide and covering up Khalra’s support for Khalistan.

Read more on the life of Shaheed Bhai Khalra here.

Media inquiries for Sikh reaction to the film can be made to media@sikhpa.com.

The murder of two Sikhs at a Covo (Bergamo, Italy) Gurdwara last month has reinforced diaspora concerns around Indian transnational repression.

Local resident Rajinder Singh and Gurmit Singh (who lived in nearby Agnadello) were shot dead just before midnight in a drive-by shooting on 17^th April outside Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur Ji. Police called it a “coldly planned execution”, according to local media.

A man described as “an Indian from Antegnate” (a nearby town) was identified by witnesses as the gunman behind the deaths of the two 48-year-olds. The attack took place outside Covo’s Gurdwara, which is in Via Campo Rampino, the day before the Gurdwara’s scheduled Nagar Kirtan (Vaisakhi celebration, religious procession).

A third man was also grazed on the head by a bullet during the sporadic and rapid gunfire from the killer, who stepped out of a car, knelt down as if praying, and then rose with gunfire, according to witnesses. The gunman is believed to have been a former attendee at the Gurdwara, although he remains unnamed publicly and currently on-the-run. Rajinder Singh, a former president of the temple, had reportedly filed a police complaint last November after being threatened by the same man. Two other men, named as Sukhjinder Singh (known as “Kala”) and Yovanpreet Singh Dhillon, handed themselves in to the Bergamo police the day after the killing based on allegations they were involved. Both were released the same day but allegedly remain under investigation.

Whilst local media speculate that a management feud for Gurdwara control was behind the killings, no official motive is yet confirmed. One associate of the deceased said to local media “We don’t know the reason. In the past there had been some discussion, but nothing that suggested a tragedy.”

Sikhs For Justice (international legal advocacy organisation, currently running the Khalistan [free Sikh homeland] referendum) issued a statement shortly after the killings, noting how Rajinder Singh was affiliated with the local Indian Consulate, and had last year organised an event to honour an Indian diplomat at the Gurdwara, much to the disdain of much of the Gurdwara congregation. Support for Indian officials is often met with backlash in Sikh communities, amidst India’s transnational terror campaign targeting activists.

The double murder became even more suspect after two noted SFJ (Sikhs For Justice) representatives of Italy received death threats for sharing the official SFJ social media post on the incident.

Brothers Jagroop and Gurpal Singh began receiving threatening calls and texts from a number now being investigated by Italian authorities, after the duo both shared the SFJ post on Facebook which labelled the killings Indian transnational repression.

Although Rajinder Singh and Gurmit Singh were known to be connected with the local Indian Consulate, such links have appeared before within the modern-day murder spree impacting diaspora Sikhs. In 2022, noted Sikh figure and Indian government affiliate Ripudaman Singh Malik was killed whilst on his way to a planned meeting with an Indian diplomat, in Surrey (BC, Canada).

Speaking to Italian media on the threats, Jagroop Singh said, “They won’t stop us. We will continue with our Khalistan Referendum activity and information campaign. We strongly condemn what happened: the response cannot be violence, but must be peaceful. We don’t know the person who threatened us: he said he was Rajinder’s friend, but we don’t know who he is or if it’s true. We are Italian citizens and, therefore, the threat was aimed at Italian citizens.”

In 2024, Sikh residents of Novellara in Italy alleged another transnational repression hit, after two Pakistani men murdered community figure Harpal Singh, the President of the local Singh Sabha Gurdwara who was involved in organising the Khalistan referendum there. The men were recently hired by Singh before they seemingly randomly killed him. Read more- Italian Sikh activists allege another Indian State assassination | SikhPA.

Brothers Jagroop and Gurpal were also targeted in 2023 when the Indian Consulate of Italy tried to interfere with their father’s funeral. Under Italian law, the Indian Consulate must give consent for a resident of India to have a funeral (specifically a cremation) in Italy. Because of the brothers’ support for SFJ, they were not given permission by Italy’s Indian Consulate to carry out a cremation there. Read more- India attempt to prevent Sikh man’s Italian funeral due to Khalistan ties | SikhPA.

Investigations into the Covo executions continue. Both murder victims leave behind families, including grown children.

A grenade with the pin still intact was left outside the business of a “BJP leader” in Gurdaspur (Panjab) on Monday evening, in an act later claimed by the “Panjab Resistance Front”.

The attack is one of at least three combative responses to Gurdaspur police killing Sikh teenager Ranjeet Singh in February in a “fake encounter”; when police fabricate an incident justifying shooting an arrestee, or claim a “disappeared” arrestee was released.

Two social media posts by @PRF_Panjab stated the “attack on a BJP/RSS leader” was a move to counter “Hindutva hate and fascist ideology” and its “occupational forces” which attempts to “control and exploit Punjab”.

The target of the attack was the business of a Gurdaspur BJP figure. Authorities cordoned off the area of Geeta Bhawan Road (a market area) where local BJP leader Atal Sharma has a “sanitaryware showroom”. Two “turbaned” assailants on a motorcycle were seen leaving the object outside the business at approximately 7.30pm on 27^th April.

The BJP is the in-power party led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, closely affiliated with the RSS, a Hindutva (Hindu extremist) paramilitary group linked to countless murders and acts of bigotry in the name of Indian Hindu nationalism. The BJP is an ultra-nationalist party which is often accused of using the RSS as a mob enforcement mechanism to subjugate minorities of India, including Sikhs.

The PRF is self-described as an organization of “Panjabis against fascism and oppression”.

The PRF incident follows two more similar acts, both of which actually saw explosives go off. Including this recent incident, since the 24^th February suspected murder of 19-year-old Ranjeet Singh, the following acts of aggression towards Indian authorities in Punjab have been reported by Indian media and confirmed by sources to The Sikh Press Association as legitimate:

• 30^th March: Bhindisain Police Station (Amritsar), blast (no injuries) claimed by the Khalistan Liberation Army regarding Indian authorities targeting Punjab youth
• 1^st April: BJP head office Chandigarh, blast (no injuries) claimed by Babbar Khalsa International regarding Indian authorities targeting Punjab youth, including another fake encounter
• 27th April: Geeta Bhawan Road (Gurdaspur), business place of BJP leader Atal Sharma, no blast, claimed by Punjab Resistance Front regarding Hindutva occupation of Punjab

The Sikh Press Association recognize that Indian authorities’ claims of Khalistani violence are often viewed as entirely fabricated to justify subjugation of Punjab, or else seen as falsely entwined with non-political crimes (EG narcotics trafficking) to justify crackdowns on the free Sikh homeland movement. However, on the occasions listed above, there is grassroots verification which affirms these are acts of pro-Sikh sovereignty groups.

Around the late-February and early-March period, some demonstrations by Punjab youth against India’s Hindutva overreach into local affairs were met with police violence. In addition, a January 23^rd 2026 attack on Punjab rail infrastructure is also noted as an act of Khalistan agitation.

These ongoing signs of deep unrest in Punjab were sandwiched between the killing of Ranjeet Singh, a killing which led to a global outcry given the brazenness of the case. The circumstances of his killing saw Ranjeet Singh taken in by local police, saying they only wanted to question him regarding the gangland style killing of two officers three nights before. Ranjeet Singh’s uncle (father’s brother) had CCTV footage of the murder of the officers which he gave to police, who later came removing all other potential video footage of the suspects from the village, arousing suspicion of police involvement in the murder of two of their own officers. A few hours after receiving a police call to the family home saying Ranjeet Singh was being released, at approximately 1am 24^th February news broke that the teenage student was killed in what police claim was a standoff. No locals report Ranjeet Singh having any history of criminality. Instead, in death he also becomes the given suspect behind the murder of the two officers the same week.

This suspected killing of 19-year-old Ranjeet Singh is seen as a trigger point, leading to increased activity from Khalistan organisations and the formation of new freedom fighter group the PRF.

However, the Ranjeet Singh killing is not isolated. Just this week, United Sikhs (global Sikh advocacy and aid charity) report the suspicious death of Amritsar Indian army officer Jasbinder Singh, immediately after he was arrested and implicated in a drug case. Read more here.

The Sikh Press Association notes actions mentioned in the above article would be classified as criminal (likely terrorism) by the Indian State. Reporting on the occurrences and wider grassroots Sikh community sentiment around such incidents is in no way advocation for any forms of violence, including acts of uniformed representatives of India.

See below for news clippings from Indian media on the recent incidents covered above.