3 min readAmritsarJul 29, 2024 01:23 PM IST
First published on: Jul 29, 2024 at 01:22 PM IST
Sikhs from the local community gathered in the Palia subdivision of Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh to stage a protest on Sunday after a police officer had allegedly called a Sikh commuter a “terrorist”.
Senior police officials arrived at the site later, and the protesters called off the protest after receiving assurance of action against the police officer, identified as Vivek Kumar Upadhyay, who allegedly used the word. The police also assured them that a thorough investigation would be conducted.
“The police were allowing commercial vehicles on the road but not the common commuters as some part of the road was under water due to the Sharda river’s overflow. When a local Sikh commuter, Jasdeep Singh, questioned the police’s discriminatory behaviour, he was called a terrorist. Local Sikhs protested against this behaviour of the police in Palia outside the gurdwara,” said local farmer leader Kulwant Singh Joshan.
Sikh spiritual leaders and politicians have waded into the row, criticising the Uttar Pradesh government and the police.
“In Lakhimpur Kheri-Palia Bhira (on the UP state highway), due to safety measures taken because of the inflow of Sharda water, Palia kotwal Vivek Kumar Upadhyay called passing Sikhs ‘terrorists,’ which led to objections from the Sikh community,” said Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh in a Facebook post. Takht Sri Damdama Sahib in Punjab’s Bathinda is one of the five seats of temporal authority of Sikhism.
“These recurring incidents are the result of the hatred being spread under government patronage against minorities in India. Sikh IPS or IAS officers are being labelled as terrorists in some instances, while in others, Sikhs are being called terrorists by the majority of community officers. Such behaviour towards minorities can engulf the entire country in the fire of hatred,” said Harpreet Singh.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal demanded action from the Uttar Pradesh government against the police officer allegedly involved in the incident. In a post on X, he said, “We strongly object to the local police officers on the Lakhimpur Kheri-Palia Bhira (UP) state highway insulting Sikhs passing through by calling them terrorists and troublemakers….”
“I also appeal to all state governments and the central government to curb the hatred being spread against minorities, particularly Sikhs, and to reprimand not only mischievous individuals but also government employees for this behaviour. The Sikh community seeks the welfare of all and has always stood against oppression and injustice,” added Badal.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh reacted to the incident on Facebook, saying police misconduct is at its peak under the BJP government. “It is extremely shameful for the police to target a community with abusive language. The chief minister should dismiss the accused police officer,” the SP said.
Lakhimpur Kheri has a significant Sikh population, and they were involved in the farmer agitation against the now-repealed three farm laws. On October 3, 2021, then Union minister Ajay Mishra Teni’s son Ashish Mishra’s SUV allegedly ran over four farmers and a journalist at Lakhimpur Kheri during a protest march against three controversial farm laws.
Protests by the Sikh community at Lakhimpur Kheri. (screengrab from facebook video) 
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