Punjab’s internet blocked amid mass targeted operation against Sikh activists

UPDATE: Punjab Police have released a statement confirming 78 arrests have been made amid a “crackdown” on Sikh activists they have described as “criminal”. In the statement they claim Bhai Amritpal Singh is a “fugitive”. However, numerous reports witnessed him being arrested, leading to concern that a “fake encounter” extrajudicial murder of the Sikh leader is in the works.

Popular Sikh leader Bhai Amritpal Singh has today been arrested, as Indian authorities enforce an internet blackout and deploy military along with a mass police operation in Punjab targeting Sikh activists.

The lead of Waris Punjab De (Protectors of Punjab), a social reform activist group started by Shaheed (Sikh martyr) Deep Singh Sidhu, the actor turned activist who died in suspicious circumstances last year, was arrested after an alleged car chase, where police followed his convoy during his touring of Punjab.

Punjab Police – notorious for torture and extrajudicial killings – are yet to provide any update about the arrest or the largescale operation targeting Sikh activists.

Along with Bhai Amritpal Singh, his affiliates and Sikh political figures have also been targeted for arrest, despite no official warrant or known reason being conveyed to explain the move by Indian authorities. Bhai Amritpal Singh’s family home in Punjab is currently being surrounded by hundreds of police. Sikh protests have already begun across Punjab. Concerns are growing about state violence, which has been the go-to reaction of the Indian state to suppress Sikh activism.

Bhai Amritpal Singh has been touring Punjab pushing an anti-drug message amid Punjab’s addiction epidemic, along with advocating support for Sikh sovereignty, which is a faith-based mandate for Sikhs.

The internet blackout comes just a day before mass gathering were planned in Punjab to mark the death of global superstar Punjabi music artist Sidhu Moosewala (Shubdeep Singh Sidhu). Moosewala was particularly popular for music which supported Sikh resistance against the Indian state, including freedom fighters and water rights positions maintained by the panth (Sikh path/community).

See more on Sikh reaction via our Twitter or Instagram, with some takes posted below. For ongoing updates we encourage following Baaz, Unmasking India, Free5ab, CSYA and Shere Punjab UK.