Indian nationalist mobs attack Sikhs, two stabbings reported

UPDATE (20.03.24): A Khalistan supporter Sikh man has been sentenced to 28-months imprisoned for violence involving using his kirpan (Sikh sword, article of faith part of the initiated Sikh uniform) during a skirmish with Indian nationalists, which also saw a policewoman injured with the blade. In comment to Sikh PA, locals maintained that the streets of Southall were awash with Indian nationalist mobs on the day, who were intent on stirring up trouble.

An Indian nationalist mob were videoed attacking Sikh Khalistan (free Sikh homeland movement) supporters during a yobbish Indian Independence Day gathering in Southall (West London, UK) last night (15.08.23).

One of several viral videos of the violence showed an Indian nationalist mob surround four Sikh men holding Khalistan flags, screaming and chanting at them, before violence broke out and the mob ended up chasing the men, resulting in at least one ending up on the floor being stomped on. Witnesses reported cries from the Indian nationalists to remove the dastaars (Sikh turbans) of the Sikh men.

See the incident which went viral here.

Videos of other skirmishes circulated around the same time as police sealed off The Broadway, a long road known as a tourist hotspot in Southall. No official police reports have been released but local witnesses have claimed there were two stabbings and that three people were taken to hospital with serious injuries. It remains unclear which side any of the victims were from.

Indian nationalists have long targeted supporters of Sikh sovereignty in India, with the Hindu extremist movement now clearly an issue in the UK where many within the Sikh community use UK freedoms to advocate for a free Sikh homeland within India (Khalistan).

Local Sikh-focused community media group AK Media followed the situation closely and countered early reports which attempted to lay blame on Khalistanis for the outbreak in violence, even though video evidence clearly showed Indian mobs carrying out the attacks.

As has happened for many years, crowds gathered in the mini-Punjab of Southall to celebrate the day India came into existence after Britain relinquished its colonial rule of the territory in 1947. Southall however, is known to be home to a large section of Khalistan supporters, with local Gurdwaras depicting images of Khalistan figures and holding events in support of the movement. Many of these Khalistan supporters have also long attended the India Independence Day gatherings to highlight wider Sikh sentiment that the period was actually a dark time for the community, due to the biggest migration in history and over two million deaths during the chaos of Punjab’s partition under the British. However, the increasingly dark turn of Hindu Indian nationalism in the UK (and beyond) became evident through the evening.

Earlier in the night before police issued a dispersal order a mob was seen chanting Jai Shri Ram marching provocatively past the Park Avenue Gurdwara, which is a 10 minute walk away from The Broadway where crowds gather. The chant is associated with intimidatory mob behaviour in India which has seen Hindu groups attack Mosques, Gurdwaras and anti-state demonstrations (including anti-rape protests).

What is Khalistan and why do Indian nationalists target Khalistanis?

Khalistan is the name of a proposed free Sikh homeland that would be made up of the Punjab state in India. The support for the movement comes partly from the fact the Indian regime has been viewed as carrying out various anti-Sikh actions since its inception, including the Sikh genocide. Khalistan support also comes from the fact that prior to the British Raj, there was a Sikh empire across India, the territory of which was handed over to a central majority Hindu government to control post 1947. Finally, support for Khalistan also comes from faith-based notions of Sikh sovereignty and philosophy. Respected activist and educator Bhai Daljit Singh recently said “Khalistan is not the idea of a Sikh state; it is the Sikh idea of a state”.

Fanatical nationalism across India, stemming from the idea India is a Hindu Rashtra (nation), has demonised those perceived as attempting to break up Bharat Mata (Mother India), resulting in mass anti-Sikh/anti-Khalistan rhetoric being normalised among Indian Hindu nationalist groups.

Anti-Sikh violence has demonstratably been imported to the West. Various reports of attacks have surfaced from Australia, whilst less violent but still concerning incidents have been reported across Canada too. Hindu extremist Vishal Jood was deported from Australia in 2021 for being a ringleader of anti-Sikh attacks in Australia, and was met with a heroes welcome in India. In the UK, Hindu mobs acting similarly as they did yesterday in Southall instigated violence in Leicester in 2021.

Across the world Sikh groups are condemning the violence whilst highlighting it as yet another example of the growing threat of Hindutva.

A Southall Sikh resident and Khalistan supporter, who asked to remain anonymous, spoke with Sikh PA about the incident, saying:

“The Indian nationalist mobs took advantage of the fact there was no coordinated demonstration by the Sikh community of Southall last night. There was a conscious decision by Sikh groups to not do anything that could raise tensions so we allowed this Indian Independence Day gathering to take place.

“The few Khalistan supporters that did attend to highlight the Sikh stand against the Indian state were very outnumbered and thus quickly targeted by the Indian mobs.

“However, Southall has a long history of standing up against fascism and now steps will be taken to ensure what we saw in the town last night will never be repeated. It is up to UK authorities to ensure these Indian nationalist mobs do not provoke violence, as next time Sikhs will not allow them to target our community.”

Sikh PA have reached out to Southall police for a statement on the incident and also to answer questions about concerns of Hindu Indian extremism in the area.