Systematic Targeting: Former Commando Latest Victim in India’s Sikh Crackdown

The arrest of former Indian Army commando Dharmendra on October 3, 2025, is a clear example of the Modi government’s long term campaign against the Sikh community. This event, where two other Sikhs were also detained, is not a simple matter of law and order. It is a clear part of a decade long strategy of mistreatment designed to silence a minority community, crush any demands for rights, and hide its own human rights failures by blaming Pakistan. What New Delhi presents to the world as national security operations is a planned political war on the identity and hopes of Sikhs.

A Clear Pattern of State Oppression

The Indian state’s actions against Sikhs are not random but follow a clear and worrying pattern. For years, the government has been repeatedly targeting members of the community, especially those who hold influence or dare to speak out, creating an environment of fear.

♦ A Decade of Targeting Sikh Soldiers: The case of Dharmendra is not new. It is part of a long list of Sikh soldiers who have been targeted over the past decade. These include Sepoy Sukhcharan Singh, Sepoy Harpreet Singh, and Sepoy Gurbhej Singh, all of whom were arrested between 2015 and 2025 on questionable charges of spying or terrorism, often without solid proof.

♦ Criminalising Peaceful Protests: The Indian government has become skilled at labelling any form of Sikh support as a “militant activity.” Peaceful protests against the disrespect of the Guru Granth Sahib or political demands for rights are quickly called anti national threats, giving the state an excuse for harsh crackdowns.

Using Law to Crush Faith and Identity

Under the Modi government, the law is no longer a tool for justice but a weapon to be used against minorities. The legal and security systems are being directed to suppress the Sikh community’s religious and political expression, sending a clear message that their identity is under threat.

♦ Punishing Those Who Demand Justice: When Sikhs protested peacefully after the desecration of their holy scripture in 2015, the state responded not by finding the culprits but by arresting the protestors. This action proved that the government’s priority was to silence the community’s voice rather than address its real complaints.

♦ A Political Move to Create Fear: These arrests are widely seen by human rights groups as politically motivated. The clear aim is to terrorise the Sikh community into silence and stop them from asking for the cultural, religious, and political acceptance they are promised under the Indian constitution.

Discontent Spreads in the Indian Army

The constant targeting of Sikhs has started to create serious problems within the ranks of the Indian Army, an important institution where Sikhs have a long and proud history of service. The government’s actions are creating a deep sense of a letdown and frustration among serving and retired soldiers.

♦ Growing Frustration Among Sikh Troops: There are growing reports of deep unhappiness among Sikh soldiers who feel they are being repeatedly targeted because of their faith. These soldiers, who have sworn to protect the country, find themselves in a painful position, torn between their duty and the state’s mistreatment of their people.

The Sikh Struggle Gains Global Attention

While the Modi government continues its crackdown at home, the Sikh struggle for justice is now receiving major attention on the world stage. The global Sikh communities living abroad and international human rights organisations are working hard to expose India’s actions and hold the government accountable.

♦ Diaspora Communities Raise Their Voice: The powerful and well organised Sikh communities abroad have been very important in telling the world about the human rights abuses in India. Through protests and speaking out, they are challenging the democratic image India tries to project.

♦ International Watchdogs Take Notice: Major global human rights organisations have condemned India’s harsh methods. They have called out the politically motivated arrests and demanded that New Delhi stop its campaign against the Sikh community, putting India under an uncomfortable international close watch.

India’s Campaign to Silence Sikhs Abroad

New Delhi’s war against Sikh identity is not limited to its own borders. The Indian government is actively trying to silence Sikh voices abroad through diplomatic pressure and by attempting to label real advocacy groups as terrorist organisations, showing how far it will go to control the story.

♦ Pressuring Canada to Act: A recent and worrying development is Canada’s decision to list the Bishnoi Group as a terrorist organisation. This move is widely understood to be a direct result of Indian pressure, aimed at damaging the reputation of Sikh activism in the West.

♦ A Strategy to Isolate Activists: By pushing countries like Canada to take such actions, India hopes to cut off support for Sikh activists abroad and isolate them. This is a clear strategy to ensure that no one can effectively challenge India’s false stories on the international stage.

Blaming Pakistan to Hide Internal Failures

Whenever it is criticised for its poor record on human rights, the Indian government uses its oldest trick, blaming Pakistan. This tactic is a convenient way to distract the world from its internal problems and to falsely portray a domestic struggle for rights as a foreign plot.

♦ A Classic Diversion Tactic: By claiming that Sikh activists are working for Pakistan, the Modi government tries to change the entire conversation. It turns a fight for justice inside India into a national security issue, hoping to gain sympathy from other countries.

♦ Discrediting a Genuine Movement: This is a selfish trick to damage the reputation of the Sikh community’s struggle. By falsely linking it to Pakistan, India aims to make their justified demands for rights seem dangerous in the eyes of the world.

Modi’s Agenda to Target Minorities

The mistreatment of the Sikh community is a key part of the Modi government’s larger political plan. This plan aims to reshape India into a nation that puts the majority Hindu community first at the expense of all minorities, which goes against the country’s basic ideas.

♦ A Part of a Larger Anti-Minority Push: The tactics being used against the Sikhs are the same ones used against Muslims and other minority groups in India. This includes using harsh laws, encouraging social hatred, and denying them their basic rights.

♦ Undermining India’s Secular Image: This repeated targeting of minorities is destroying India’s claim to be a secular and democratic country. The government’s actions show that it is moving towards a system where only the majority’s rights and culture are protected.

A Political Campaign Disguised as Law Enforcement

It is essential to understand that the ongoing arrests and bothering are not about maintaining law and order. This is a carefully planned political campaign designed to bring a proud and vocal community under the complete control of the central government.

♦ It Is About Control Not Crime: The actions against Sikhs are driven by a political desire for total control. The goal is to eliminate any potential challenge to the government’s power, ensuring that no minority group can stand up for its rights effectively.

♦ The World Must See the Truth: The international community must look past India’s claims and see the situation for what it is. The growing global support for the Sikh cause is a hopeful sign, but real pressure is needed to force New Delhi to change its course.

In conclusion, the arrest of Dharmendra is a symbol of the dark path the Indian government is on. It is a path of mistreating its own people, deceiving the world, and blaming its neighbours for its own failures. While the Modi government may believe it can crush the spirit of the Sikh community, the strength of the people and the increasing international awareness suggest that this fight for justice, dignity, and rights is far from over.