Unmasking the Troll Armies: State and Non-State Actors Behind Fake Profiles & Benami Networks

The rapid advancement of digital technology and the dominance of social media platforms have given rise to a new sphere of psychological warfare and repression. While these technologies initially provided people with an unprecedented opportunity to exercise their freedom of expression, the digital space is now heavily marred by state-sponsored repression. This is enforced through severe censorship, arbitrary bans, and punitive regulatory regimes, amounting to "digital repression". However, the threat extends beyond official state mechanisms. Various state and non-state actors, IT cells, and troll armies actively target not just individuals or groups, but entire communities and identities, manufacturing biased narratives and fabricating public opinion. To dissect this phenomenon—particularly within the context of Punjab and the Sikh community—journalist Mandeep Singh sits down with Parmjeet Singh Gazi, editor of Sikh Siyasat News. Having authored four research papers in Punjabi and delivered multiple university lectures on digital repression, he brings critical expertise to this issue. This discussion exposes the various networks devised by the Indian state to target online Sikh activism. It examines how state-sponsored troll armies have harassed Sikh diaspora activists, contributing to alleged transnational repression in the UK, Europe, North America, and across the West. Furthermore, the conversation delves into the "Cactus Network"—a web of fake profiles and benami (anonymous) pages secretly operated by certain Punjabi and Sikh activists locally and abroad. By fabricating narratives and targeting fellow Sikh organizations, these networks indirectly serve the state's broader agenda of digital repression targeting the Sikhs. #SikhSiyasat #ParmjeetSinghGazi #JournalistMandeepSingh #SikhinIndia #FarmersProtest #delhifarmersprotests #AmitShah #AjitDoval #MehkmaPunjabi #FakeProfiles #SocialMedia #DigitalRepression #DigitalRevolution #IndianState #USA #Canada #UK #Europe #NewZealand #Australia #China #Russia #Paksitan #GeoPolitics #Narrative #DeepSidhu #WarisPunjabDe #AmritpalSingh #IndianExpress #TheTribune #Amritsar ---- ---- ---- ---- 📣 Join Membership of Sikh Siyasat's YouTube Channel to Listen Audiobooks and Support Sikh Siyasat Media -- https://bit.ly/joinSikhSiyasat ---- ---- ---- ---- 📱 INSTALL OUR OFFICIAL APP:- ✅ Get Sikh Siyasat App for iPhone from Apple App Store - https://bit.ly/sikhsiyasatiosapp ✅ Get Sikh Siyasat App for Android from Google Play Store - https://bit.ly/sikhsiyasatapp ---- ---- ---- ---- 🎧📚 Get Sikh Siyasat App to Listen to Sikh and Punjabi Audio Books. 👉🏾 Get Our App Now - https://bit.ly/SikhSiyasatApp ---- ---- ---- ---- ♻️ JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:- ✅ Like Sikh Siyasat's Facebook Page -   / sikhsiyasatmedia   ✅ Follow Sikh Siyasat on Twitter -   / sikhsiyasatpb   ✅ Follow Sikh Siyasat on Instagram -   / sikhsiyasat_   ✅ Subscribe Sikh Siyasat's YouTube Channel -    / sikhsiyasat   ---- ---- ---- ---- 🌏 OUR WEBSITES: - 🌐 News & Views in English - https://sikhsiyasatnews.net 🌐 News & Videos in Punjabi - https://sikhsiyasatnews.info ---- ---- ---- ---- 🔰 Join Our Telegram Channel:- ❇️ Join Sikh Siyasat's Official Telegram Channel - https://t.me/sikhsiyasat ---- ---- ---- ---- 🔰 Join Us on WhatsApp:- 👉🏾 Step 1:- Save Our WhatsApp Number +918556067689 to Your Phone Contacts. 👉🏾 Step 2:- Send Us Your Name via WhatsApp Message. ❇️ Send Us A WhatsApp Message Now - https://wa.me/918556067689 ---- ---- ---- ---- Visit Our Online 📚 Books Shop (We deliver 📚 Books Globally) ✅ Order 📚 Books from Sikh Siyasat via WhatsApp:- https://wa.me/c/918968225990 ---- ---- ---- ---- Order Products from Sikh Siyasat's YouTube+Spreadshirt Store: ✅ Visit our store now to order products -    / @sikhsiyasat   ---- ---- ---- ---- 🙏🏽 Share Your Feedback:- 📬 via email - news@sikhsiyasat.net 👤 via Facebook Messenger - https://m.me/sikhsiyasat 📟 via WhatsApp - https://wa.me/918556067689