Punjab farmer ends 560-day tower protest as Punjab amends sacrilege law

After spending more than 560 days suspended between sky and ground, Gurjeet Singh Khalsa’s protest came to an abrupt yet carefully orchestrated end on April 24 morning, when a 10-minute rescue operation brought the 43-year-old farmer safely down from a towering telecom structure in Punjab’s Samana.

Khalsa, an ex-serviceman turned farmer, had climbed the nearly 400-ft BSNL tower on October 12, 2024, demanding stricter laws against sacrilege in the state. What began as a solitary act of defiance evolved into one of Punjab’s most enduring and symbolic protests — drawing attention from across the region and beyond.

His descent came just days after the Punjab government passed an amendment to the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act, 2008 — legislation central to the concerns raised by Khalsa and others who had rallied around the issue of sacrilege.

A tense but swift operation

The rescue unfolded in the early hours, led by coordinated teams from the fire services, police, and civil administration. While Army personnel had conducted a dry run a day earlier to map out logistics, the final operation was executed entirely by local authorities.

In the first phase, Khalsa began climbing down on his own, descending to nearly 200 ft. Fire brigade personnel, strategically positioned both above and below, guided every move, ensuring his safety after months spent at a precarious height.

Within minutes, he reached a turntable ladder platform stationed midway. From there, he was carefully transferred and brought down to the ground — bringing an end to a protest that had tested physical endurance and administrative patience alike.

Chants, relief, and reunion

At the base, a large crowd had gathered since early morning, their chants of “Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal” echoing through the area as the operation progressed. Police maintained a tight perimeter, balancing crowd control with the urgency of the mission.

When Khalsa finally touched the ground, the moment was deeply personal. Waiting at the site were his family members, who embraced him after nearly a year and a half of separation marked by uncertainty and resolve.

He was immediately escorted into an ambulance, where medical teams assessed his condition — checking oxygen levels and blood pressure after his prolonged exposure at extreme height.

‘I am thankful’: Khalsa’s first words

In his first remarks after descending, Khalsa struck a note of gratitude and calm.

“I am thankful to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Samana Sub-Divisional Magistrate Richa Goel, Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, and all the officials of the Patiala administration. They supported me throughout. I am doing fine and in good health… Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,” he said.

His words marked not just the end of a protest, but the closing of a chapter defined by persistence, faith, and a demand that has now, at least in part, been addressed.