Delhi Police have arrested three people, including an alleged mastermind, over offensive graffiti painted at the Singhu Border ahead of the 18th BRICS summit, while security has been tightened across key locations in the capital.
The graffiti was allegedly painted on walls at the Singhu Border on September 6. According to police sources cited by the Times of India and ANI, the investigation has identified suspected links to the banned outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and its chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Pannun later allegedly claimed responsibility for the act in a post on X, the sources said.
The Delhi Police Special Cell registered a first information report after the incident and examined CCTV footage from the border area. Investigators also collected other inputs before arresting the three accused, police sources said. The police have recovered a car allegedly used in carrying out the graffiti.
Police have alleged that the person described as the mastermind was in direct contact with a foreign handler, received foreign funding and managed SFJ operations in India. These claims form part of the ongoing investigation and have not been established through a court finding.
The arrests come as India hosts the BRICS summit at Bharat Mandapam on September 12 and 13. The venue is among the locations receiving heightened security, with dog squads deployed as part of the arrangements. The summit has brought an expanded security and law-and-order operation to Delhi, including deployment around the main venue and other operational areas.
Delhi Police has mobilised more than 15,000 personnel for the summit-related arrangements. Around 200 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces have also been provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs for law-and-order duties and other operational responsibilities, Special Commissioner of Police (Security) Manish Agarwal said on Friday.
The scale of the deployment reflects the administrative requirements of hosting a major international meeting in a densely populated and highly connected city. Security arrangements must cover the summit venue, access routes and other public areas while regular policing and movement across Delhi continue. The police statement did not provide details of any traffic restrictions or route closures linked to the operation.
The theme of this year’s summit is “Building Resilience for Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainable Development.” BRICS currently comprises 11 countries: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.
India is a founding member of the grouping and has previously chaired BRICS in 2012, 2016 and 2021. The grouping’s agenda includes development, finance, technology, trade and people-to-people exchanges. Delhi Police’s investigation into the Singhu Border graffiti and the summit security operation remain ongoing.
