NEW DELHI: A case has been registered after the walls of several metro stations across Delhi were found defaced with pro-Khalistan ahead of the G20 Summit which is set to be hosted in the national capital next month under India’s presidency, police said on Sunday.
According to the Delhi Police official, the case has been registered under section 153 A, section 505 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Defacement Act.
“We received information about slogans at Nangloi PS at 11 am. A case has been registered and an investigation has been initiated. (Slogans) have been written at 4 metro stations. A case registered under sections section 153 A, section 505 and the Defacement Act,” Commissioner of Police (Metro) G Ram Gopal Naik told ANI.
Section 153A criminalises and punishes making statements, speeches or acts that have the effect of disturbing public tranquillity or law and order by promoting enmity or creating fear or alarm between classes of people on the basis of differences in religion, caste, language or place of birth.
Section 505, on the other hand, criminalises making statements, reports or rumours that encourage members of armed forces or a police officer to refuse to perform his duty, encourages a person to commit offences against the state or disturb public tranquillity and incites persons to disturb public tranquillity.
Suspected activists of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), a front for the separatist Khalistan Group, defaced several metro stations with pro-Khalistan slogans, fuelling security concerns ahead of the G20 Summit.
In pictures shared by Delhi Police, slogans are seen inscribed on the walls of Metro stations, reading “Delhi Banega Khalistan” and “Khalistan Zindabad”.
“Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) also released raw footage of Delhi Metro stations which were defaced with pro-Khalistan slogans,” an officer said.
“Suspected SFJ activists defaced multiple Metro stations in Delhi — from Shivaji Park to Punjabi Bagh — with pro-Khalistan slogans,” the officer added.
Confirming the defacement of Metro stations, they were pursuing necessary action in the matter, as per law.
The defacement of the Metro stations comes at a time when the national capital is playing host to the B20 Summit India, 2023. The three-day summit started on August 25 and will end on Sunday. The event has drawn over 1,500 delegates from 55 countries.
As many as 18 heads of state are expected to attend the G20 summit in the national capital next month.
Many heads of state and diplomats, including US President Joe Biden, Chinese Premier Xi Jinping, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and French President Emmanuel Macron are expected to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit. (ANI)