Police torturing Sikhs en masse in Nanded (India)

Dozens of Sikh men, women and children have reported being tortured, beaten and harassed in Nanded (Maharashtra, India) by the local police force.

Whilst dozens of Sikhs have reported the targeted abuse, it is likely hundreds, possibly even thousands, suffered at the hands of police in Nanded today. The targeting comes on the back of local authorities placing over 300 FIRs (First Incident Reports) against Sikhs that resisted attempts to stop Hola Mohalla celebrations.

On 29th March local authorities tried to place barriers around Sri Hazur Sahib Gurdwara to prevent a Hola Mohalla procession from happening. Sri Hazur Sahib is a Gurdwara known for having strong Nihung presence, a section of the Sikh community that have maintained the Hola Mohalla celebration traditions for centuries. The reason given for the bar against Hola Mohalla celebrations was covid protocol restrictions. However, such restrictions were not enforced by authorities against large Hindu celebrations of Holi and other events which saw big gatherings.

Sri Hazur Sahib is one of the Panj Takht (five thrones, referring to five specific Sikh institutions of authority) of the faith and thus considered a very important site for Sikhs. Moves to prevent celebrations of Hola Mohalla in Sri Hazur Sahib were seen as akin to trying to prevent Easter celebrations in the Vatican, and thus a trouble-seeking move by authorities, knowing that Sikhs would not adhere to the restrictions.

As expected, Sikhs breached barriers to conduct a Hola Mohalla procession. In the move, scuffles broke out between police and some of the procession attendees. Authorities and media reported injuries to at least four policemen, whilst dozens (up to 64 on the day depending on reports) of participants were arrested as a result of the incident.

Following this, local police issued over 300 FIRs against Sikhs in the area and thus have been seeking their arrest. Today (1st April) police seem to have acted on those FIRs with a violent wave of raids and arrests. Reports of severe torture of children (mainly boys in their early teens, as depicted in the viral image shared above) have shocked the international Sikh community who are now calling for action. As well as the targeting of boys and men, Sikh women are also being harassed and worse, whilst simply trying to visit Sri Hazur Sahib Gurdwara.

These actions reflect a familiar pattern of the treatment of minorities like the Sikhs by Indian authorities, seen both historically (see Sikh genocide 1984) and currently (see #FarmersProtest).

More information on this situation will be provided when possible.