The Delhi Police Special Cell arrested two persons on January 29 for allegedly defacing the walls by writing pro-Khalistani slogans in West Delhi.
According to a police officer, two persons are identified as Vikramjeet Singh (29), a resident of Tilak Nagar, and Balram Singh (34), who hails from Bharatpur in Rajasthan. They are both drivers by profession and work at a prominent hotel in Aerocity.
The police officer added that the banned separatist organisation Sikh For Justice (SFJ) had promised them each 2 lakh rupees.
“Both had painted the walls with objectionable slogans in west Delhi’s Janakpuri and Vikaspuri. The photos of the painted walls were clicked by Vikramjeet and sent to US-based SFJ member Gagandeep Singh,” the officer said.
Police said Gagandeep had done this at the behest of Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, who is a Khalistani separatist and wanted by Indian authorities. He is suspected to be based in the US.
Pannu had allegedly made a video and tried to give a message to Indian authorities about the revival of Khalistan before Republic Day.
The Delhi Police had also registered a case related to the matter on January 12.
Police said exactly a week before Republic Day, multiple pieces of pro-Khalistani graffiti were found at various locations in Vikaspuri, Janakpuri, Paschim Vihar, Peeragarhi, Meera Bagh and adjoining parts of Western Delhi.
A related video surfaced on the internet, in which Pannu claimed that the graffitis were sprayed by SFJ Cadres.
Pannu further claimed that Khalistani supporters have reached Delhi. He said his supporters will raise the Khalistani flag in Delhi on Republic Day.
Graffiti was painted at different places with slogans like, ‘Khalistan Zindabad’, ‘SFJ’, ‘1984’, ‘Punjab Banega Khalistan’ and ‘Referendum 2020 Vote for Khalistan’, in English and Gurmukhi.
A preliminary investigation into the case showed that Vikram was in touch with Gagandeep. Following their plan of spreading threats and making an attempt to revive militancy, Vikram convinced his colleague Balram to partake in a nefarious plan in lieu of quick money.
Vikram then bought multi-colour sprays from a shop in West Delhi. Both clandestinely sprayed this pro-Khalistan graffiti during the wee hours of January 19 and recorded videos of the same. These videos were then sent to Sikh For Justice senior cadre based abroad for further broadcast through social media.
Incidentally, the accused were paid only ₹20,000 instead of ₹2 lakhs promised.