Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh: Five members of a gurdwara management committee in Bareilly have been booked for displaying posters of Khalistani separatists in two Sikh shrines. The incident involved posters of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Amrik Singh, and General Subeg Singh being put up in the Model Town and Janakpuri gurdwaras.
The police took action following the discovery of the posters, which were reportedly displayed to mark ‘Balidan Diwas,’ a commemoration of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. This observance was directed by the Akal Takht Sahib, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs.
Police Action:
- The posters were removed after police intervention.
- An FIR has been registered against five individuals: Malik Singh Kalra, Gurdeep Singh Bagga, Harnam Singh, Rajendra Singh Jani, and Hardeep Singh Nimma.
- Additional Superintendent of Police (City) Rahul Bhati confirmed that the posters were taken down and that legal action was initiated against those responsible.
Committee’s Response:
Malik Singh Kalra, one of the accused, stated that while the government and police may have differing views on Bhindranwale, Amrik Singh, and General Subeg Singh, the Sikh community regards them as martyrs. These figures were prominent in the Khalistani movement and were killed during Operation Bluestar in June 1984, a military operation aimed at removing armed separatists from the Golden Temple.
Background:
Operation Bluestar was a significant event in Indian history, leading to the deaths of Bhindranwale and his associates and sparking a series of violent events, including the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the subsequent anti-Sikh riots.
This incident underscores the continuing sensitivities surrounding the Khalistani movement and its historical figures, reflecting the complex and often contentious history of Sikh separatism in India.
