— FOUR MOBILE PHONES, ONE DONGLE DEVICE RECOVERED
— EVIDENCE INDICATES THEY WERE RECEIVING FOREIGN FUNDING FOR THESE UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES, SAYS DGP GAURAV YADAV
CHANDIGARH/BATHINDA, October 31:
In a major breakthrough amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Counter Intelligence Bathinda, in a joint operation with Bathinda Police, apprehended three operatives of the banned outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) for writing pro-Khalistan slogans on the walls of schools in villages Bhissiana and Mananwala, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Friday.
New York-based SFJ— backed by mastermind Gurpatwant Singh Pannun— is designated as an Unlawful association by the Indian Government.
Those arrested have been identified as Navjot Singh alias Jota (24) and Gurpreet Singh (26), both residents of village Kaliaewala in Ferozepur; and Harjinder Singh, a resident of Mananwala in Bathinda. The Police teams have also recovered four mobile phones, one dongle device from their possession.
As per the information, Pro-Khalistani slogans were found written on the walls of two schools— including a School at village Mananwala on the intervening night of October 19 and 20, 2025 and PM Kendri Vidyalaya at village Bhissiana on the intervening night of October 26 and 27, 2025.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigation has revealed that the arrested accused painted inflammatory slogans aimed at inciting public unrest and promoting anti-national sentiments. Evidence indicates they were receiving foreign funding for these unlawful activities, he said.
The police teams acted swiftly and ensured that no anti-national activity goes unchecked, said the DGP, while adding that the Counter Intelligence Bathinda and Bathinda Police jointly carried out the investigation in a professional and scientific manner to bring the culprits to justice.
Sharing operational details, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bathinda Amneet Kondal said that following technical leads, Police teams had managed to apprehend two accused persons— Navjot alias Jota and Gurpreet Singh—, who are main accused in writing slogan at the PM Kendri Vidyalaya at village Bhissiana.
She said that following the further investigations, police teams of Counter Intelligence Bathinda have also arrested accused Harjinder Singh, who wrote slogans at wall of a School at village Mananwala.
The SSP said that during questioning, arrested accused persons has revealed that they had written the slogans on the walls following the directions of foreign-based individual identified as Pawanpreet Singh alias Deep Chahal, who is close aide of Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, in lieu of money.
Sharing more details, AIG CI Bathinda Avneet Kaur Sidhu said that arrested accused Harjinder has revealed that accused Navjot had introduced him to Pawanpreet Singh alias Deep Chahal, who directed him to write the slogan for which he was paid Rs 2000.
In this regard, two separate cases— FIR no 197 dated 23/10/25 under section 197 (1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and section 3 of the Punjab Prevention of Defacement Property Ordinance Act at Police Station Rama in Bathinda and FIR no. 242 dated 27/10/25 under sections 197 (1) and 3 (5) if the BNS and section 3 of the Punjab Prevention of Defacement Property Ordinance Act at Police Station Nehian Wala in Bathinda— have been registered.
