Sikh leader arrested by Punjab Police on dubious charges

A Sikh leader has been arrested in his car and his home in Punjab was subsequently raided by police over dubious charges.

Bhai Barjinder Singh Parwana, head of Damdami Taksal Rajpura, is facing charges relating to tearing down a poster put up by Hindu nationalist group Shiv Sena in Punjab and for accusing Punjab Police of stirring disharmony in the community. No evidence of any crime has been presented in court, and the presiding judge has reportedly labelled the charges as “imaginative”.

Parwana has been a vocal opponent to the draconian UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act) and is a campaigner for justice for the victims of the 1984 state-supported Sikh genocide. He allegedly tore down a poster of KP Gill which was put up by Shiv Sena. KP Gill was known as the Butcher of Punjab for his role in the murder of thousands of Sikhs in the 1980s and 1990s.

He was arrested along with two associates by a team of Mohali police, after a complaint was reportedly lodged by Shiv Sena leader, Sudhir Suri, according to DSGPC chief Manjinder Singh Sirsa. According to Parwana’s lawyer, his home was raided with no explanation from the police, and the laptops of his children were seized, which has left the entire family traumatised.

According to India-based journalist Amaan Bali, police accused Parvana of instigating people in Gurdaspur. “Now it is important to understand that the only thing Parvana said during Gurdaspur Beadbi (religious sacrilege) Case was that Police is saving it’s face by putting Singhs in jail. Parvana has spoken for justice & against beadbi,” he said.