Footage of Indian police brutality against Sikh causes outrage

By Ajai Singh

A shocking video has emerged of a Sikh man being beaten, having his dastaar (Sikh turban) removes and being dragged by his kes (unshorn hair) by police officers in Madhya Pradesh.

The incident took place in Rajpur Tehsil of Barwani after an argument broke out between the family of Giani Prem Singh Granthi and the police over setting up a stall in the area, police said he was drunk, two suspended @ndtvindia @ndtv pic.twitter.com/C6SudAS5cD

— Anurag Dwary (@Anurag_Dwary) August 7, 2020

In the 50 second video of the incident (which took place on August 7 th ), a police officer is seen pulling Giani (a title meaning knowledgeable one) Prem Singh, a local Granthi (one in charge of care for Sikh scriptural Guru Guru Granth Sahib Ji) by his kes. During the assault Prem Singh was pleading for witnesses to help him as he feared he would be killed. Throughout the video, he is repeating “Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh”, a sacred Sikh phrase.

Sikhs humiliated & tortured in MP in Tehsil Rajpur Distt Barwani, Giani Prem Singh Granthi was beaten in public & his turban was disrespectedWe demand immed action against these police officers who crossed line of humanity Such barbarism has no place in democracy pic.twitter.com/QHoEhNOo52

— Bilvinder Singh (@Bilvindersingh) August 7, 2020

Attempts by witnesses to intervene led them to also be assaulted by police. In addition to being a Granthi, Prem Singh also owns a lock-key stall in Madhya Pradesh. He contends that the police officers were attempting to extort him but his inability to pay led him to be assaulted.

Police superintendent Nimish Agrawal has alleged that Prem Singh is a suspect in three cases of theft in a nearby district and that he and his companion did not have a driving license for their motorcycle. According to Agrawal, one of the individuals became uncooperative when police took them to the police outpost which is close to his stall. However, this would not explain why the police did not simply arrest Singh, rather than beating and humiliating him by removing his dastaar.

Agreeing to the fact that rules and discipline are an integral part but not by hurting the sentiments of any person. Today this incident of Giani Prem Singh (Granthi) which was brutally beaten up by Madhya Pradesh Police is totally unfair means of punishing someone. @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/NAbE9UKuAc

— Jaspreet Singh Bushi (@jaspreetbushi) August 8, 2020

As a result of the brutality, the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan has suspended an assistant sub inspector and head constable with immediate effect. They have been named as Sitaram Yadav and Mohan Jamre. Moreover, he has ordered a probe to find out more details about the assault. He has promised that the guilty will face justice. Reaction to this has been swift on social media- the clip was viral on Twitter and picked up by major Indian media outlets.

This incident is part of a pattern of attacks against Sikhs and Muslims. Such hostility to minorities has been further emboldened by the Hindu Nationalism politics of the ruling BJP Party. Previous examples included the exclusionary Citizenship Bill and the dog whistle racism of Modi’s allies.

Ajai Singh is a freelance journalist working with The Sikh Press Association. You can find more of his work at-