A film based on alleged extrajudicial killings of Sikhs during India’s insurgency era has gone viral on WhatsApp after reportedly being banned in India, drawing renewed attention to one of the country’s most controversial chapters in recent history.
According to Indian media reports, Satluj, a film inspired by real events from the 1980s and 1990s, portrays the alleged enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of Sikh youths during the militancy period in Punjab.
Satluj reportedly centres on the experiences of victims’ families and raises questions about alleged human rights violations committed during counterinsurgency operations.
Why is Diljit Dosanjh’s ‘Satluj’ creating controversy in India?
Despite facing restrictions in India, the film has gained traction online, with users widely sharing it through WhatsApp and other digital platforms, allowing it to reach audiences beyond traditional cinema channels.
The development has reignited debate over historical allegations of abuse during the Sikh insurgency, with supporters arguing that the film highlights a neglected chapter of history, while critics maintain that the subject remains politically sensitive.
The Sikh insurgency in India’s Punjab state peaked during the 1980s and early 1990s. Human rights organisations have, over the years, documented allegations of enforced disappearances, custodial torture and extrajudicial killings during the government’s crackdown on separatist militants, although Indian authorities have defended their actions as necessary to restore law and order.
