Batala, Punjab – On the evening of February 27, 2025, a young Sikh man, identified by police as Mohit from Batala, was killed by Indian police in what many are calling yet another "fake encounter." The incident has reignited accusations of extrajudicial killings targeting Sikh youths, marking this as the fourth such death in recent months, according to critics who see a disturbing pattern orchestrated by a Hindu nationalist government and its police force to create fear among Sikhs seeking freedom from India. 
Local Sikh communities and activists are crying foul, alleging Mohit’s killing was a cold-blooded murder. Earlier that day, police arrested two individuals, Vishal and Mohit, both from Batala, before Mohit was killed in what locals claim was a fabricated encounter. "It’s always the same story," said a Batala resident who requested anonymity. "They label our boys as terrorists, stage a shootout, and claim self-defense. How many times will this happen?" The police released Mohit’s identity, but their lack of detailed evidence has only fueled suspicion. 
This killing follows a chilling trend. In December 2024, three Sikh youths—Varinder Singh, Gurwinder Singh, and Jashanpreet Singh—were gunned down in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, in a joint operation by Uttar Pradesh and Punjab Police. Their families and advocates contested the encounter’s legitimacy, citing inconsistencies like pristine mugshots taken hours before their deaths. Now, with Mohit’s death, the tally rises to four Sikh youths killed in alleged encounters within three months, stoking fears of targeted persecution. 
Community leaders are demanding an independent probe, accusing the Hindu nationalist government and its police of using "encounter killings" to silence dissent and instill terror in Sikhs who aspire to break free from India’s control. "This isn’t justice—it’s execution," said a Sikh activist. "They’re wiping out our youth, and the government stays silent." Posts on X echo this outrage, with users decrying a "genocide" and calling for accountability. 
For many in Punjab, Mohit’s death rings hollow, a grim echo of a past marked by similar controversies. As tensions simmer, the killing of this young man adds another chapter to a saga of mistrust between the Sikh community and a state they see as bent on suppressing their dreams of independence—a wound that deepens with every bullet fired.