PHILLAUR, April 2: —Two days after pro-Khalistan and anti-Constitution slogans were spray-painted on the protective glass surrounding a BR Ambedkar statue in Phillaur, police on Wednesday booked Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun for terror-related charges and promoting disharmony.
The Jalandhar Rural police also invoked the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in the case registered at Phillaur police station.
The fresh FIR was filed after Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) district in-charge Khushi Ram received an audio recording on Tuesday, in which Pannun allegedly threatened to remove the Ambedkar statue before April 14. The SFJ leader purportedly offered ₹10 lakh to anyone who carried out the act.
“Pannun has again hurt religious sentiments and is attempting to create divisions, which will not be tolerated,” Ram stated in his complaint.
SFJ activists allegedly vandalized the site on March 31, spray-painting slogans and putting up derogatory banners. Phillaur DSP Sarwan Singh Bal said the audio recording was being sent for forensic verification. “We urge people to guard against baseless rumors,” he said.
Pannun later claimed responsibility, calling the vandalism “just a trailer” and threatening to remove all Ambedkar statues in Punjab before April 14. Police have registered cases under Sections 113 (terrorist acts), 196 (promoting disharmony, enmity, hatred), and 299 (hurting religious sentiments) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Meanwhile, BSP state unit chief Avtar Singh Karimpuri led a protest at Nangal village condemning the incident.
