SFJ Steps Up Pro-Khalistan Propaganda In Punjab Ahead Of Assembly Polls; Operatives Paid Up To Rs 10,000 Per Poster

September 15, 2026

New Delhi: Banned outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has stepped up its alleged pro-Khalistan propaganda campaign across Punjab ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled to be held next year, according to intelligence officials.

Officials said the outfit, acting on the instructions of its chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a proscribed terrorist, is deploying local operatives to put up secessionist posters and paint pro-Khalistan graffiti, particularly in rural areas of the state.

The campaign is reportedly aimed at creating communal divisions, spreading misinformation and intensifying tensions in Punjab.

SFJ Targets Rural Punjab With Posters And Graffiti

According to officials, SFJ has instructed some of its members in Punjab to focus extensively on rural pockets, where they have been asked to put up posters and paint pro-Khalistan messages on walls.

The operatives have also reportedly been directed to record their activities and send the videos to Pannun. Officials said these videos could then be circulated widely on social media to create tensions and encourage more young people to join the movement.

An Intelligence Bureau official said Pannun has a strong social media team and alleged that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has invested significantly in propaganda activities.

Officials said rural areas are being deliberately targeted because misinformation can spread more easily in places where access to fact-checking tools may be limited. The propaganda is also expected to include misleading content related to religion, with the stated objective of creating communal tensions.

Operatives Paid Up To Rs 10,000 For Each Poster

Officials said SFJ is recruiting young people, including those without previous police records, to carry out such activities, making it more difficult for security agencies to identify them.

The tasks assigned to them are reportedly simple, with operatives allegedly being paid Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 for putting up each propaganda poster. The money is said to be channelled through SFJ operatives and contacts in Punjab.

Officials also claimed that the outfit has been looking for drug addicts to carry out such activities, as they may be vulnerable to financial inducements.

Security Agencies Face Multiple Challenges

Officials said another objective of the campaign is to divert the attention of security agencies by keeping them occupied with graffiti, posters and other propaganda activities. They claimed this could create opportunities for cross-border elements to smuggle arms, ammunition and narcotics into the country.

The latest campaign comes as security agencies prepare for the Punjab Assembly elections and deal with the growing drone threat from Pakistan. Officials said sophisticated drones are being used to drop arms, ammunition and narcotics, with the proceeds allegedly being used to fund terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir and efforts to revive the Khalistan movement in Punjab.

Last week, Delhi Police arrested three men for allegedly painting pro-Khalistan graffiti at the Singhu border ahead of the BRICS Summit. Police had reportedly found that the graffiti was carried out at the behest of SFJ. The messages included references to “Khalistan SFJ” and “Khalistan Zindabad”.

Officials said the latest SFJ campaign has increased security concerns ahead of the Punjab polls, particularly because the outfit is relying on local operatives and social media to expand the reach of its propaganda.