Samana tower protest ends: Gurjeet Singh Khalsa rescued after 560 days, calls it a ‘spiritual victory’

Samana tower morcha: In a major joint operation Friday morning, the Patiala administration, with support from the Indian Army, safely brought down farmer Gurjeet Singh Khalsa, who had been staging a prolonged protest atop a 400-foot BSNL tower at Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Chowk.

Khalsa had remained on the tower for nearly 560 days. The coordinated rescue, carried out under the supervision of the district police and additional security teams, was completed in about 30 minutes. As he descended, Khalsa raised the slogan “I am in high spirits,” and thanked supporters for standing by him. He said the journey had been extremely difficult but credited his unwavering faith in his Guru for giving him strength.

Officials involved in the operation said favourable weather conditions, including steady winds and clear sunlight, helped execute the mission smoothly. A high-tech crane, along with manual assistance, was used to ensure his safe return.

Khalsa had climbed the tower in October 2024 to demand stricter laws against incidents of sacrilege. His protest gained momentum after the Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria approved the Jagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026. Following the Bill’s clearance, Khalsa decided to call off his agitation.

During his time on the tower, Khalsa lived in extremely challenging conditions, staying under a plastic sheet while relying on two volunteers who supplied him food and water once a day. The lack of physical movement also affected his health, with fluctuations in blood pressure and sugar levels reported at times.

A dairy owner and farmer by profession, Khalsa said repeated incidents of sacrilege in the state had deeply hurt his religious sentiments, prompting him to take such an extreme step.

Members of the Samana Tower Morcha are now organising an Akhand Path at the protest site. The agitation will formally conclude after the religious ceremony is completed.