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The Print
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
Who is Resham Singh, Pannun's man arrested for ‘defacing public properties, Ambedkar statue'
At Pannun's directions, Resham Singh has allegedly orchestrated four such incidents in Punjab so far this year, including the defacement of Ambedkar's statue in Jalandhar's Nangal village this month. The suspect, identified as Resham Singh from Barnala district's Hamidi village, is a long-time aide of SFJ founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has listed as an 'individual terrorist'. New Delhi: The Punjab Police arrested an operative of the banned Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) on Wednesday for promoting anti-national sentiments by defacing public properties and statues of prominent leaders, such as B.R. Ambedkar. The accused, the police said, worked as a security guard in his home district before he came in contact with Pannun and his network. Resham Singh was previously arrested by Karnal police in Haryana and Sangrur police in Punjab for his role in similar cases, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said. 'During the Indo-Pak escalation in May, he painted inflammatory slogans such as 'Pakistan Zindabad' and 'Khalistan Zindabad' to incite public unrest and promote anti-national sentiments,' Yadav said in a statement Wednesday. Punjab Police's State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) unit took Singh into custody from Kharar on the outskirts of Mohali. Investigation has so far revealed that Resham Singh was working on the instructions of Pannun and Surinder Singh Thikriwal, originally from Barnala district and currently based in the US, the Punjab DGP said. Thikriwal allegedly fled India in 2022. Pannun, a dual citizen of the US originally from Punjab, was declared an 'individual terrorist' in July 2020, a year after his organisation was declared a terrorist outfit by the MHA in July 2019. Authorities have registered more than 100 cases against the SFJ and Pannun, with around 60 in Punjab alone. Also Read: Sikh separatists engaging in violent extremism a 'threat to national security'—Canada intel report 'Pannun's aide since 2019, funding of Rs 8-10 lakh' According to the Punjab Police FIR, the SSOC's Mohali unit received a tip-off around 7.45 a.m. Wednesday that Resham Singh was hiding somewhere in their jurisdiction. The SSOC booked Singh and Thikriwal under Sections 152 (endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India), 196 (promoting enmity between different groups) and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. In a statement to the media, SSOC Mohali in-charge Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Ravjot Grewal said that Resham Singh was taken into custody from a hideout arranged by Thikriwal. Grewal said Resham Singh revealed his six-year-long association with Pannun and the overall network of the SFJ during interrogation. He allegedly confessed to having been introduced to the SFJ network in 2019 through Harpreet Singh alias Rana, who at the time used to host the media channel, Politics Punjab. 'Harpreet Rana was instrumental in connecting Resham to key SFJ members, including Bikramjit Singh (USA), J.S. Dhaliwal and Pannu himself,' Grewal said. She further said that Resham has received at least Rs 8 lakh from Pannun and his network for promoting their secessionist propaganda, such as painting anti-India graffiti on important structures and public spaces. Resham Singh came out of Sangrur jail in May 2024 after serving nearly two years in Sangrur and Karnal for involvement in similar offences in the respective districts. According to records of cases submitted by the MHA before the UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act tribunal constituted to vet the ban on SFJ, Resham Singh's name first appeared in cases related to the outfit in 2022 when he and his nephew, Manpreet Singh, were arrested by Punjab Police for two incidents of painting secessionist graffiti. The Sangrur police had filed an FIR under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 153B (assertions prejudicial to national integration) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC, as well as relevant sections of the UAPA and the Punjab Prevention of Defacement of Public Property Act after the June 2022 incident of writing pro-Khalistan graffiti on the walls of a temple came to light. Around the same time, the Karnal police booked Pannun under Sections 153A, 120B of the erstwhile IPC and 13 of the UAPA that deals with punishment for unlawful activities in connection with writing pro-Khalistan graffiti on the walls of Dyal Singh College and DAV Public School in the district. Around a week later, similar graffiti was found on the boundary wall of Sangrur's Water Testing Regional Laboratory and the Ranbir Club in Sangrur. The Punjab Police arrested both Resham and Manpreet Singh in July 2022. However, as Manpreet was only 18 years old at the time of the offence, he revealed that Resham Singh was the main culprit behind the plot. After spending considerable time in police custody, Resham Singh was granted bail in the Karnal case by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in April, while he secured bail in the Sangrur cases from the trial court in May last year. However, Grewal said that as soon as he walked out of the Sangrur jail in May last year, he resumed his activities under the direction of Pannun and the SFJ network. The defacement of Ambedkar's statue in Jalandhar was his last offence before arrest on Wednesday. 'The probe has revealed that after each act, accused Resham used to record videos and send them to his handlers abroad, who used them to fuel secessionist propaganda. Till now, the accused has received around Rs 8 to 10 lakh from his foreign-based handlers,' the AIG added. (Edited by Sugita Katyal) Also Read: Born out of 'desperation', DRG is first line against Maoists in Bastar. Tech is giving them an edge
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Key SFJ operative arrested for vandalising Ambedkar's statue
Jalandhar : Punjab Police's state special operation cell (SSOC), Mohali, has arrested Resham Singh, a key operative of the banned Sikh for Justice (SFJ) group, for his involvement in the vandalism of a Dr BR Ambedkar statue in Phillaur and executing a series of Pro-Khalistan graffiti across the state. Resham, a close associate of SFJ's US-based head Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, was apprehended after being on the run since the incident. Punjab director general of police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said that initial investigations pointed to Resham's involvement in the June 2 vandalism at Nangal in Phillaur. Resham, a resident of Hamidi village in Barnala, was allegedly acting under the directions of Surinder Singh Thikriwal, a wanted criminal in several UAPA cases, and Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, he said. The accused is also accused of defacing public property with pro-Khalistan and pro-SFJ graffiti in multiple districts, including Patiala, Faridkot and Jalandhar. Resham had been involved in spreading inflammatory slogans such as 'Pakistan Zindabad' and 'Khalistan Zindabad' during the Indo-Pak escalation in May 2025, further escalating anti-national sentiments. Foreign funding and anti-national propaganda Investigations have revealed that Resham was receiving foreign funding to carry out his unlawful activities. According to the DGP, Resham was also involved in other anti-national activities and had previously been arrested in two UAPA cases in Karnal (Haryana) and Sangrur for painting anti-national graffiti. The authorities are now investigating his links to international sources that may have funded his actions. Assistant inspector general of police (SSOC) Ravjot Grewal said the police received credible intelligence regarding Resham's role in promoting secession. The SSOC team launched a well-coordinated operation, which led to his arrest from Kharar, where he had taken refuge under the protection of his handler, Surinder Thikriwal. During interrogation, Resham confessed that he was introduced to the SFJ network in 2019 through Harpreet Singh alias Rana, a key figure behind the now-banned media channel 'Politics Punjab.' Rana reportedly connected Singh to prominent SFJ leaders, including Pannu, Bikramjit Singh (USA), and JS Dhaliwal. Following his release from Sangrur jail in May 2024 after serving a two-year sentence, Resham resumed his anti-national activities, now under the influence of Thikriwal, a former terrorist who fled to the US in 2022. Resham was reportedly instructed to record videos of his acts of vandalism and send them to his handlers abroad, who used the footage to fuel secessionist propaganda. Authorities have confirmed that Resham received between ₹8 to ₹10 lakh from foreign handlers to fund his unlawful activities. Investigations continue as police work to identify other individuals involved in the network and assess the extent of their operations.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Terror group Sikhs for Justice operative arrested for vandalising B R Ambedkar's statue near Phillaur, writing ‘Pakistan Zindabad' during conflict
1 2 Mohali: The state special operation cell (SSOC), Mohali, has arrested a key operative of banned separatist outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) for vandalism and inciting communal unrest across Punjab, according to Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav in a post on X on Wednesday. Resham Singh, a resident of Hamidi village in Barnala, was apprehended in an intelligence-led operation by SSOC officials. According to sources, he was absconding since early June after allegedly vandalising the statue of B R Ambedkar in Nangal village near Phillaur (Jalandhar), on the instructions of Surinder Singh Thikriwal, a US-based fugitive, and SFJ legal counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun (in pic), a designated terrorist. Investigators revealed that Resham Singh was actively involved in spreading pro-Khalistan and pro-SFJ graffiti across several Punjab districts, including Patiala, Faridkot, and Jalandhar. During the Indo-Pak border tensions in May 2025, he painted inflammatory slogans such as "Pakistan Zindabad" and "Khalistan Zindabad" on public walls, allegedly to provoke unrest and stoke separatist sentiments. Officials said there is evidence that the accused received foreign funding to carry out these anti-national activities. He has a history of similar offences and was previously booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in Karnal (Haryana) and Sangrur (Punjab). A fresh FIR was registered at SSOC, Mohali, and further investigations are ongoing to identify other operatives and funding channels linked to the SFJ network.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Punjab Police foil target killing plot; 2 aides of Arsh Dalla held
In a major breakthrough, the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), Mohali, has successfully foiled a major target killing plot by arresting two key operatives of Canada-based terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dalla from Dharamkot in Moga district. The arrested persons have been identified as Kawaljit Singh alias Kaka, a resident of Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, and Navdeep Singh alias Honey, a resident of Badduwal village in Moga. During the operation, the SSOC team recovered a Zigana pistol and nine live cartridges from the possession of the accused. Ravjot Grewal, AIG, SSOC, said the arrests were made following a tip-off that Arsh Dalla was planning to eliminate a rival gang member in Faridkot. He had already provided his operatives with arms and specific target details. Based on this input, a case was registered under FIR No. 07 dated June 13, 2025, under Sections 25 and 25(7) of the Arms Act and Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Police Station SSOC, Mohali. During interrogation, Kawaljit Singh revealed chilling details about the plot. He admitted to being in direct contact with Arsh Dalla, who had tasked him with the assassination and ordered that even the target's family members be eliminated if present. He further disclosed receiving ₹1 lakh as an advance payment and confirmed that logistical support was being provided by Navdeep Singh. Investigations also revealed that Kawaljit had recruited additional associates, and an unidentified individual had already conducted a recce of the target's residence. More extortion-related targets were also assigned to the duo. With these arrests, the SSOC thwarted a major violent crime and potentially saved lives. Both accused are currently in police remand for four days as further investigation continues.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Indian Express
Targeted killing plot by Arsh Dalla foiled, two arrested: Punjab Police
The State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Punjab Police, has claimed to have foiled a targeted killing plot allegedly masterminded by Canada-based designated terrorist Arsh Dalla. Acting on intelligence, the SSOC apprehended two key operatives Kawaljit Singh, a resident of Dharamkot, and Navdeep Singh, alias Hani, a resident of Badduwal. According to initial investigations, the duo were operating under the directions of Dalla and had been tasked with eliminating rival gang members and extortion targets. 'This timely and intelligence-driven operation has helped dismantle a targeted killing module and has averted a major threat to public safety,' a senior SSOC official said. During the operation, police recovered one Zigana .30 bore pistol along with nine live cartridges from the possession of the accused. An FIR has been registered at the police station in SSOC, Mohali, under relevant sections of the law. Further investigations are underway to identify both forward and backward linkages of the module and unravel the full extent of the conspiracy. Reaffirming its stance, Punjab Police DGP posted on X at the official handle @PunjabPoliceInd, 'we remain committed to eliminating organized crime and ensuring peace, safety, and harmony across the state'.
