Punjab Shiv Sena leader Sandeep Thapar’s FB page with controversial posts shut

Nikhil Bhardwaj

Ludhiana, July 8

After an attack on Punjab Shiv Sena leader Sandeep Thapar, alias Gora, by three Nihangs near the Ludhiana Civil Hospital on Friday morning, his Facebook (FB) page, which had thousands of followers, has been found shut. The FB page ceased to open on Sunday.

The Tribune correspondent had scanned the entire page of Thapar before it was deactivated. The page had tonnes of posts against hardliners, militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Khalistan sympathisers, terrorism and some political issues. The page also had posts pertaining to the Operation Blue Star in which Thapar had termed it as the day of celebration. Thapar even posted a message that he would distribute laddus (sweets) on this day.

Since Thapar was vocal against Khalistan and Bhindranwale, he used to upload tonnes of posts related to these subjects. After attack on Thapar his FB page had gone viral. When people scanned the posts, the page came under the scanner of the police.

Although the police claimed that they had not shut Thapar’s FB page, Shiv Sena leaders claimed that on the directions of the cops, family members of Thapar had to deactivate his page.

When contacted in this regard, Ludhiana Police Commissioner (CP) Kuldeep Singh Chahal said, “The police have not got the FB page shut. Thapar’s members have deactivated his page.”

During the initial probe, the police found that the main reason of attack on Thapar was his vocal stance against Bhindranwale and hardliners. Two arrested Nihangs identified as Sarabjit Singh Sabha and Harjot Singh Jota, who led murderous attack on Thapar, also confessed during their questioning that they were nursing a grudge against Thapar who used to speak against Bhindranwale.

Both also confessed that they had not planned any attack. They said on Friday, when they saw Thapar at the Civil Hospital they decided to teach him a lesson. The duo also admitted that they had no regret for what they did and even the presence of gunman with Thapar had not dissuaded them from attacking their target.