Amritsar Police Station blast claimed by Khalistani group, Sikh movement gains fresh momentum
Islamabad: The deadly IED explosion at the Amritsar Police Station on August 10, 2025, has been claimed by the Shaheedi Force Unit One Punjab Sovereignty Alliance. In an open letter, the group described the attack as a response to the growing repression of Sikhs in India.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the operation at Gharinda Police Station was carried out by fighters Satnam Singh, Mukh Singh, and Baba Singh. The claim has exposed what observers call a major security failure for Indian forces.
Shaheedi Force Unit Commander-in-Chief Jassa Singh Azad warned that such actions will continue if what he termed India’s “systematic persecution” of Sikhs does not stop. He accused authorities of targeting Sikh youth, torturing detainees, and harassing families. “Our struggle is not against ordinary people but against the system that suppresses Sikhs and denies our rights,” Azad said, calling on Sikhs to unite in the fight for Punjab’s sovereignty.
The blast came just days before Sikhs worldwide observed August 15 – India’s Independence Day – as a Black Day. In Amritsar, markets were shut in protest, posters were pasted on walls, and a rally in support of Khalistan was held at the Golden Temple.
The slogan #LongLiveRevolution has resurfaced, symbolizing Sikh resistance and the community’s defiance against Indian rule. This comes as Sikh diaspora groups continue to organize referendums. On August 17, thousands of Sikhs in Washington DC voted in favour of Khalistan.
The Khalistan campaign has only gained momentum despite New Delhi’s efforts to curb it. Sikh leaders accuse India of targeting activists abroad, pointing to the killings of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada and Avtar Singh Khanda in the UK, which they describe as state-sponsored terrorism.
Indian authorities, meanwhile, have imposed a media blackout on the Amritsar blast. Officials continue to blame “external interference” to hide what Sikh leaders say are “systematic human rights violations” inside India.
Recently, Sikh groups also dismissed New Delhi’s claims of a Pakistani missile threat to Amritsar and reports of anti-air batteries deployed around the Golden Temple, calling them diversionary tactics.
The latest escalation highlights that demands for justice, equality, and self-determination among Sikhs remain unresolved. For many, the wounds of the 1984 Operation Blue Star massacre are still fresh, reminding every new generation of the need to continue their struggle.
