Two members of SFJ held from Delhi over pro-Khalistan graffiti
New Delhi (PTI): Delhi Police has arrested two members allegedly linked to Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) for allegedly writing pro-Khalistan slogans at two locations in Delhi before the Republic Day, an official said on Thursday.
The accused have been identified as Baljinder, an ambulance driver in Delhi, and his associate Rohit alias Kirth, he said.
According to the police, the duo allegedly acted at the behest of Canada-based SFJ chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who promised them Rs 2 lakh to deface public places by writing graffiti in a bid to disturb communal harmony and create unrest in the city days before January 26.
"The accused wrote some pro-Khalistan graffiti at two separate locations in Delhi just before the Republic Day," a senior police officer said.
Investigations revealed that the conspiracy was allegedly hatched from Canada, where a close associate of Pannun coordinated with the accused, the officer said. The handler allegedly recruited Baljinder and Rohit for the job and remained in touch with them through encrypted communication platforms.
During questioning, Baljinder disclosed that he was lured by the promise of money and logistical support, while Rohit assisted him in identifying locations and executing the act, police said.
"The police are continuing to search for more people connected to Pannun and his network," the officer said.
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Bengaluru: Drug cases in Karnataka rise by 63% in just one year
Bengaluru: Karnataka has witnessed a sharp increase in cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, with official data showing a steep 63% increase in just one year, The New Indian Express reported on Thursday.
According to data from the Karnataka State Police, while 4,187 NDPS cases were registered across the state in 2024, the number surged to 6,825 in 2025, highlighting the growing scale of the drug menace in the state.
The increase in the number of cases has raised serious concerns among law enforcement agencies, policymakers and public health experts, who warned that the trend reflected both expanding drug networks and rising substance abuse, particularly among youngsters.
Police officials said the rise in cases is partly due to intensified enforcement measures as well as increased availability of narcotic and psychotropic substances. Senior police officers attributed part of the rise to focused enforcement drives launched across the state.
Special teams have been formed to crack down on peddlers, especially in the Mysuru and Bengaluru city police commissionerate, after seizures of drugs worth crores of rupees in recent months. In Mysuru, a team from Mumbai police recently conducted a raid on a suspected drug manufacturing unit on the outskirts of the city. In another case, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) confirmed the existence of an illegal drug manufacturing laboratory in the city last month.
Following these cases, police have heightened surveillance near educational institutions, IT corridors, transport hubs and urban hotspots, including industrials sheds.
“We have stepped up checks and intelligence-based operations, which has led to the detection of more cases. However, the numbers also indicate the growing penetration of drugs into society,” an officer said.
Experts said enforcement alone cannot explain the sharp rise in NDPS cases. De-addiction specialists and social workers pointed out that peer pressure and easy access to drugs as key reasons. Synthetic and psychotropic substances, which are easier to transport and conceal, have reportedly seen a notable rise.
While urban areas continue to account for a majority of NDPS cases, authorities said drug trafficking is gradually spreading to rural and semi-urban regions as well. Authorities said organised networks are expanding their reach, targeting vulnerable populations, including students and migrant workers.
