Vehicles Smashed by Police – Dozens Arrested and Injured in Punjab

***BREAKING NEWS UPDATE*** CONTACT FINALLY MADE WITH BABA RANJIT SINGH KHALSA DHADRIANWALE

KOTKAPURA, Punjab—Reliable sources have confirmed that communication has finally been established with Baba Ranjit Singh Khalsa Dhadrianwale. Singh’s inside and outside of India have been out-of-contact with the Parcharak for almost 24 hours and his whereabouts have not been known since telephone broadcasts were cut at the time of the Kotkapura attack in the early hours of Wednesday October 14, where law-abiding Sikhs were peacefully reciting Nitnem.

It has been learnt the Baba Ranjit Singh Khalsa is currently underground in an unknown location, whilst Parmeshar Dwar is said to be under Police watch. It seems authorities are at present searching to detain and register cases against him, as well as Bhai Amrik Singh Ajnala, Giani Kewal Singh, Bhai Panthpreet Singh, Bhai Sarabjit Singh and the other Sikh leaders.  It is rumoured that these leaders will be charged under Section 307, Attempt to Murder. Very recently before this happening, a huge stand was taken against the Jathedars’ decision to pardon the “Sauda Saadh”.

In the region, at least fifteen Singhs from the Nirvair Khalsa Dal have sustained injuries, with around 8-10 arrested by the Police and taken to unknown locations. The head of the Parmeshar Dwar Gurmat Parchar Mission filming crew is still missing. This team has filmed thousands of Gurmat Diwaans over many years for the benefit of Sikhs worldwide. Mobile phones from the Jatha were taken by the authorities, as well as almost all the Jatha’s Parchar vehicles, most of which have been smashed by the Police.

It must be noted that as the large and sudden gathering of Police and CRPF had arrived at Kotkapura (approximately 3am IST), Sikh leaders had appealed for calm to the 10-15,000 strong Sangat, so that the agenda to sabotage the Morcha would not succeed. The request was respected by the peace-abiding Sikhs unconditionally. A resolution was passed that first the Sangat and women would court arrest, followed by the Sikh leaders and Parcharaks straight after in order to avoid any disorder. Arrested Sikhs were being dropped off en-route and told to return to their homes. However, those Sikhs began returning to Kotkapura and the ones still there, including the leaders and Parcharaks, had decided to exercise their legal right and remain stationed at the Dharna site due to this strategy being employed by the authorities to disperse the mass gathering. Police returned to Kotkapura in large numbers and the unimaginable terror that followed has been witnessed by Sikhs worldwide through social media.

Bullets were fired and water cannons were used on the Sikh leaders, Parcharaks and Sangat. At this point, Sikhs were forcefully picked-up or assaulted. Bhai Panthpreet Singh is said to have sustained injuries during this offensive, as well as many others. Baba Ranjit Singh Khalsa with a group of Singhs were pursued by numerous Police officers but managed to enter a nearby Gurdwara. Soon after, they were transported from the Gurdwara to a currently unknown location.

Bhai Panthpreet Singh is reported to be arrested at Faridkot whilst the whereabouts of most other leaders are not known.