In a stunning reversal, the Indian military has withdrawn its allegation that Pakistan carried out a drone and missile attack on the Golden Temple in Amritsar, following categorical denials from Sikh leadership and growing backlash from the Sikh community.
According to News, the Indian Army issued a clarification to distance itself from the inflammatory claim, which it now concedes was unsubstantiated. The retraction is widely viewed as an embarrassing U-turn by the Modi government, which initially accused Pakistan of orchestrating an aerial assault on Sikhism’s holiest shrine amid rising regional tensions.
Facing mounting criticism and demands for evidence, the Indian military released a fresh statement acknowledging that no air defence guns or systems were deployed at the Golden Temple complex—contradicting its own earlier assertions. Analysts have called the move a desperate attempt to avoid further embarrassment after Sikh leaders dismissed the allegations as fabricated and politically motivated.
Sikh Citizens Targeted in Sweeping Arrests on Baseless Espionage Charges
Simultaneously, Indian authorities have intensified a campaign of arbitrary arrests targeting Sikh citizens, accusing them of spying for Pakistan without credible proof. The crackdown has drawn widespread condemnation from civil society and Sikh diaspora groups, who allege a deliberate effort to criminalize dissent.
In Gurdaspur, two individuals were arrested for allegedly sharing information related to “Operation Sindoor” with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), though officials have failed to present any tangible evidence. In Uttar Pradesh, police apprehended an Indian citizen, Shehzad Wahab, branding him an “ISI agent” without substantiation.
In Amritsar, two more civilians were taken into custody on false accusations of photographing military installations, while in Kanpur, an employee of the Ordnance Factory was arrested for allegedly conversing with a Pakistani individual on social media.
Earlier, Indian vlogger Jyoti Malhotra—known for projecting a peaceful image of Pakistan—was detained on espionage charges. It was later revealed that she was affiliated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), casting further doubt on the legitimacy of the accusations.
These developments, unfolding under the shadow of the Golden Temple controversy, have intensified concerns over the Modi government’s use of hyper-nationalist narratives to target minority groups. Rights advocates warn that the crackdown reflects a broader pattern of silencing opposition and stoking communal tensions for political gain.
International observers and Sikh leaders have urged the Indian government to halt the repression, respect civil liberties, and refrain from exploiting national security rhetoric to justify human rights violations.
