New Delhi: Delhi Police has arrested three men for painting ‘pro-Khalistan’ graffiti at Singhu border ahead of the ongoing BRICS 2026 Leaders’ Summit, ThePrint has learnt.
Police suspect that the act was carried out at the behest of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), the US-based secessionist group led by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun—designated as an individual terrorist by India in July 2020.
Among those arrested is Preetpal, who sources say was out on bail and served as operational head of SFJ in India. He was previously arrested by Delhi Police Special Cell in 2023 for painting similar graffiti at multiple locations in Delhi ahead of the G20 Summit.
Preetpal faces multiple cases in Punjab and Haryana for SFJ-related activities.
Besides 31-year-old Preetpal, police have arrested Harminder Singh and Niranjan, having traced their movements using CCTV footage from the Singhu border area.
A police source told ThePrint that the graffiti was painted on 7 September, near the Guru Tegh Bahadur Memorial in Alipur, on the outskirts of Delhi, “at the behest of the banned organisation Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and its head Gurpatwant Singh Pannun”.
According to the source, it had multiple slogans: “Dismantle Modi’s BRICS”, “Khalistan SFJ”, “Khalistan Zindabad” and “SFJ Khalistan America First”.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) first banned SFJ under The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in 2019. Through a notification dated 8 July 2024, it extended the ban for a period of five years, citing SFJ’s involvement in subversive activities, ties with militant outfits, and actions prejudicial to the internal security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of India.
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Preetpal: Operational head of SFJ
A postgraduate by qualification, Preetpal comes from a wealthy family and served as operational head of the SFJ in India, it is learnt. “He first connected with foreign handlers via social media texts and calls in 2018 and was gradually indoctrinated into the outfit’s activities,” a police source told ThePrint.
In September 2023, Delhi Police Special Cell arrested Preetpal and one Rajvinder Singh for painting ‘pro-Khalistan’ graffiti in Delhi’s Punjabi Bagh and Nangloi. They had painted slogans like “Delhi Banega Khalistan” and “Khalistan Zindabad” that were found on the walls of Shivaji Park, Madipur, Paschim Vihar, Udyog Nagar, and Maharaja Surajmal Stadium metro stadiums on 27 August, ahead of the G20 Summit.
The wall of a government school in Nangloi was also found defaced. Later, a purported video released by the SFJ showed defaced walls of the metro stations.
Referring to the incidents from 2023, sources said Preetpal and Rajvinder Singh reached Delhi on 26 August, painted the graffiti after dark using paint purchased from Barnala, and returned to Punjab the next day.
“Preetpal was in touch with Pannun through the Signal app. Pannun had promised the accused a total amount of USD 7,000 for committing the act,” a police source told ThePrint, requesting anonymity.
Jailed in Patiala, Preetpal was released on bail earlier this year and continued managing SFJ operations while out on bail. “To evade police, Preetpal operated as a double agent. He would voluntarily share basic information with police officers to act as an informant and maintain an alibi, while concealing core details about his operations,” said the police source.
Police suspect that Preetpal “received lakhs of rupees in foreign funding via hawala channels in his mother’s bank account to avoid suspicion”.
“He was tasked to do sloganeering for Operation Blue Star, among other pro-Khalistan activities. When he won their trust, they gave him bigger tasks, even managed to recruit more people for this job,” the police source told ThePrint.
It was during his time in prison in Patiala that Preeptal recruited Harminder Singh and Niranjan, offering them money to paint graffiti.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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