Three Arrested Over Pro-Khalistan Graffiti at Delhi Metro Stations, SFJ Link Suspected

Three people, including a woman, have been arrested for allegedly defacing two Delhi Metro stations with pro-Khalistan graffiti on the instructions of handlers linked to the banned Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) outfit, police said on Sunday.

The accused were allegedly promised substantial financial rewards for writing separatist slogans at prominent Metro locations, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Narra Chaitanya said. The accused have been identified as Sumeet alias Raftar (30), a resident of Panipat in Haryana, and Sumit Kumar alias Kaka (22) and Gurpreet (22), both residents of Punjab.

Pro-Khalistan slogans referring to SFJ were found near Gate No. 1 of Jahangirpuri Metro station on October 29. Similar graffiti was discovered on an inner staircase wall near Gate No. 2 of Shastri Nagar Metro station the following day. The slogans also carried a threatening message targeting those described as traitors to the community, police said.

Investigations allegedly identified Kumar as the mastermind, who had been radicalised by SFJ sympathisers in Ludhiana and Gurdaspur. He was subsequently contacted by an associate and instructed to download an encrypted messaging application to receive assignments.

A key SFJ member allegedly shared templates for the graffiti through the platform and offered Kumar financial compensation for carrying out the acts. Kumar then allegedly recruited Gurpreet and Sumeet.

According to police, Sumeet painted the slogans at Jahangirpuri Metro station, recorded a video and sent it to his handlers. Kumar and Gurpreet allegedly carried out the vandalism at Shastri Nagar during the intervening night of October 28 and 29.Police said the trio travelled to Delhi from Ludhiana by taxi and reached ISBT Kashmere Gate on October 29.

Sumeet had reportedly come into contact with Kumar through online platforms. Investigators also found that Sumeet had allegedly painted graffiti near GTK Bypass on October 30. That incident is being investigated separately. Further investigation is underway to identify other people involved and establish the role of the alleged handlers behind the operation, police said.