Sikh Groups Plan Protest Over Sidhu Moose Wala’s Killing On Operation Blue Star Anniversary

Picture courtesy PTI

New Delhi: The Bhagwant Mann government is in the dock over the brutal killing of singer-politician Sidhu Moose Wala. It now has to deal with another challenge. Some Sikh groups are planning major protests over the killing of Moose Wala to coincide with the Operation Blue Star anniversary in the state on June 6.

Amritsar-based Dal Khalsa has announced a shutdown in the holy city on June 6 to protest Moose Wala’s killing. The call by Dal Khalsa leader Kanwar Pal Singh has received support from several other Sikh organisations in the state, News18 reported.

Though there was an alleged involvement of gangs in Moose Wala’s death, the timing of his killing needs to be probed, the Dal Khalsa said. Its members further said any inaction would only encourage youths to pick up arms, the report added.

According to Opposition parties of Punjab, several high-profile killings have taken place since the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) took over. “First, it was the communal clashes in Patiala, then there was the RPG attack in the heart of Mohali, killing of an international Kabaddi player in Jalandhar and now the brutal killing of the international acclaimed Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala. Early Tuesday morning, a state bus was robbed at gunpoint in Ludhiana,” Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa was quoted as saying.

Apart from the state police force, additional paramilitary personnel have been deployed in the city. Given the sensitive situation arising out of the Intelligence headquarter attack and now the killing of Moose Wala, the agencies are on high alert. Any further lapse could prove to be very costly for us, an officer said in the report.