Granthis and journalists among hundreds arrested by Punjab Police to quell day of protest

The repeated pattern of suppression of media and police brutality has met protests against Punjab’s Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann this week, as a mass demonstration in support of Bhana Sidhu was attempted.

On the morning of February 3rd, a day when countless of Punjab’s Sikhs promised to rally in demand of the freedom of activist and influencer Sidhu, police mass arrested hundreds, but were unable to prevent thousands more from heading to the home of comedian turned politician Mann.

Read more about why Bhana Sidhu is at the centre of this issue here.

However, protesters that did mobilise were met with roadblocks, attempting to prevent them travelling into part of Sangrur, near to the Aam Aadmi Party CM’s residence. In scenes reminiscent of the #FarmersProtest, protester both dismantled or went around – and sometimes even through – the barriers to drive on towards the planned protest site.

Those that did break through staged a peaceful protest in the area around Mann’s residence, whilst hundreds of others from across Punjab – including respected journalists, activists and even a former Punjab Chief Minister – were in cells or detained elsewhere to prevent the protest from being even bigger.

The demonstration was called for by respected Punjab-focused Sikh activist Lakha Sidhana, who was one of many big names detained by police on the day, including former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, multiple farmer union figures and respected Punjab journalists such as Rattandeep Singh Dhaliwal.

Yet, many Sikhs will be most concerned to learn that even Granthis (meaning knowledgeable ones, referring to Sikhs in charge of prayer/meditation/recitals in a Gurdwara) were targeted. In a video released by respected Punjab based journalist Rattandeep Singh Dhaliwal, one interviewee explains officers even beat up a 13-year-old child when seeking to detain another man, amid the targeting of the Granthis.

The incident comes as news of another police attack on a Granthi and other Gurdwara sevadaars (selfless servants) has broken, depicting a worrying trend of disrespect of Sikh faith figures by Indian State authorities.

As well as the mass arrests, Punjab authorities did release various previously arrested activists, and confirmed Bhana Sidhu – the activist with millions of social media followers arrested for taking on immigration fraud corruption – would be released on 10th February, instead of 14th February as originally planned, leading to the protests ending for now.

Protests will gather pace across Punjab though, as the #FarmersProtest heads to Delhi again on 13th February, with farmer groups determined to hold Narendra Modi to account for his “betrayal” on promises made regarding MSP (Minimum Sale Price) after the original protest ended in 2021.

Speaking on the latest mass protest in Punjab, Sikh Press Association Senior Press Officer Jasveer Singh said:

“Punjab’s protest are not just against ongoing State corruption, it is also very much so in support of its homegrown voices that challenge the system, this time in the form of Bhana Sidhu. The people have come out for a popular figure who is exposing a massive problem. Punjab’s people are being simultaneously sold a dream to travel to the West and then exploited in pursuit of it by the same vendors. Sidhu has challenged the network profiting from that and he is now being targeted for doing so. Sadly, that story is no surprise to Sikhs.

“The fact even a former Chief Minister of Punjab can be detained shows the danger the average citizen is in for speaking against this current regime under Bhagwant Mann.

“Granthis being arrested seems to indicate an ongoing increase in the intensity of the Indian State’s attempt to crush Sikh dissent though, ever since Bhagwant Mann came into power. They are caretakers of sacred Sikh spaces, and treating them this way will upset global Sikh communities.”