New Delhi: Delhi Police have arrested three people, including a woman, for allegedly painting pro-Khalistan slogans at two Metro stations in the national capital on the instructions of handlers linked to the banned Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) outfit, officials said on Sunday.

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The accused were allegedly promised substantial financial rewards for defacing prominent Metro locations with separatist slogans, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Narra Chaitanya said.

The arrested persons have been identified as Sumeet alias Raftar (30), a resident of Panipat in Haryana, and Sumit Kumar alias Kaka (22) and Gurpreet (22), both from Punjab.

The graffiti was first spotted near Gate No. 1 of Jahangirpuri Metro station on October 29. Similar slogans were found on the inner wall of a staircase near Gate No. 2 of Shastri Nagar Metro station the following day, the officer said.

The slogans referred to SFJ and pro-Khalistan ideology and included a threat of retaliation against those described as traitors to the community.

The investigation initially led police to Sumeet, following which they identified two other alleged accomplices based in Ludhiana, Punjab.

According to the DCP, Kumar was the alleged mastermind and had been radicalised by SFJ sympathisers in Ludhiana and Gurdaspur. An associate later contacted him and instructed him to download an encrypted messaging application to receive assignments.

A key SFJ member allegedly shared templates for the graffiti through the platform and offered Kumar substantial financial compensation for carrying out the task at prominent Metro stations in Delhi. Kumar subsequently recruited Gurpreet and Sumeet, police said.

"After arriving in Delhi, Sumeet allegedly went to Jahangirpuri metro station, painted the slogans, recorded a video of the act and sent it to his handlers. Kumar and Gurpreet allegedly carried out the second act of vandalism at Shastri Nagar metro station during the intervening night of October 28 and 29," the officer said.

Police said Sumeet had come into contact with Kumar through online platforms. About a week before the incidents, he visited Ludhiana, from where the three travelled to Delhi in a taxi and reached ISBT Kashmere Gate on October 29.

Kumar allegedly directed Sumeet to paint the graffiti at Jahangirpuri Metro station, the DCP said.

The investigation also revealed that Kumar and Gurpreet had known each other for around four years. Kumar had met her while she was working at a hotel in Samalkha, Panipat, and the two later began living together.

Police further said Sumeet had allegedly painted graffiti near the GTK Bypass, under the jurisdiction of Samaypur Badli police station, on October 30. That incident is being investigated separately.

Gurpreet had previously worked at a salon in Zirakpur, Punjab, and at various hospitality establishments in Punjab and Haryana.

"She had met Kumar through a mutual friend around four years ago. Kumar allegedly persuaded her to travel to Delhi on the pretext of a shopping trip, following which she was informed about the plan to deface metro property.

"Further investigation is underway to identify other persons involved in the network and establish the role of the handlers behind the alleged operation," the officer said.