Security agencies have launched an investigation after graffiti carrying pro-Khalistan slogans was found on a train at Ferozepur Cantonment railway station ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to Punjab later this week.
The development surfaced after the banned separatist outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) circulated a video purportedly showing slogans painted on coaches of a Delhi-bound train.
The video, attributed to SFJ, showed slogans such as “Khalistan Zindabad” and “Modi Murdabad” written on the train. The authenticity of the footage has not been independently verified.
The video was released by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the US-based leader of the banned outfit, who used it to reiterate separatist rhetoric and referred to human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra while raising allegations linked to Punjab’s militancy era.
Pannun also made provocative remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and called upon supporters to display Khalistan flags during the Prime Minister’s proposed visit to the state.
In the video, Pannun claimed that Khalra had documented cases relating to unidentified bodies during the 1990s and alleged that those findings reflected a wider pattern of human rights violations.
He further alleged that Punjab was now facing what he termed an “economic genocide”, claiming that drug abuse and agrarian distress were destroying the state’s youth and farming community. Urging young Sikhs to participate in protests, he appealed to them to “hold Khalistan flags” during the Prime Minister’s visit as a show of support for the separatist cause.
Officials said investigators were examining CCTV footage from Ferozepur Cantonment railway station to identify those responsible for writing the slogans on the train. Police teams have also begun collecting forensic evidence from the site, while security has been stepped up across the region in view of the Prime Minister’s scheduled engagements in Punjab.
Prime Minister Modi is expected to visit Punjab on July 15 and July 17, during which he is likely to attend programmes in Ludhiana and Jalandhar. Among the proposed engagements is the inauguration of the newly developed Jalandhar Cantonment railway station building, while official sources have also indicated that he may inaugurate multiple development projects in Chandigarh during the visit.
The controversy has also renewed attention on Jaswant Singh Khalra, whose life inspired the recently released Punjabi film Satluj, starring Diljit Dosanjh. The film was withdrawn from the OTT platform shortly after its release and remains unavailable following action taken by the Centre under provisions of the Information Technology Act.
Khalra, who was associated with the Shiromani Akali Dal’s human rights wing, had investigated records relating to unidentified cremations in Punjab during the militancy period. His research drew national and international attention before he was abducted and killed in 1995. His work has since figured in judicial proceedings, human rights discussions and public debate.
SFJ, founded by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in 2007, campaigns for the creation of a separate Khalistan and has promoted its so-called “Referendum 2020” campaign from overseas. The organisation was banned by the Government of India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in 2019 on charges of supporting separatist activities. In July 2020, the Ministry of Home Affairs designated Pannun as an individual terrorist under the UAPA, accusing him of promoting secessionist ideology and encouraging extremist activities among Sikh youth. Authorities have also blocked dozens of websites and online platforms linked to the organisation as part of their crackdown on its activities.
Officials said security agencies remain on high alert ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit, with surveillance intensified at railway stations and other sensitive locations to prevent any attempt to disrupt public order.