The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on November 22 conducted raids at the premises of suspects in Punjab having links to the outlawed ‘Unlawful Association’ Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), sources said.
The raids are underway in close coordination with the Punjab Police. The NIA sleuths conducted the raids based on specific inputs about some suspects having links to the SFJ and started raids in early November 22 morning.
The move comes two days after the NIA announced to register a case against ‘listed individual terrorist’ Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of the SFJ over his latest viral video threatening the passengers flying in Air India and the airlines with a global blockade and closure of its operations from November 19. The anti-terror agency made the announcement on November 20.
The NIA has booked Gurpatwant Singh Pannun under various sections Indian Penal Code and sections Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
NIA said in a statement that “Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is the the self-proclaimed General Counsel of the outlawed ‘unlawful Association’ SFJ, and is in the eye of the storm yet again following the release and circulation of video messages on various social media platforms urging the Sikhs not to fly on Air India planes on and after November 19 claiming threat to their lives if they flew on Air India.”
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun also threatened that Air India would not be allowed to operate in the world.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun’s assertions and threats have triggered a high alert as well as investigations by security forces in Canada, India and certain other countries where Air India flies.
In his video messages, released on November 4, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun had urged Sikhs to stop flying on Air India planes on and after the said date, citing a potential threat to their lives.
He also issued a warning to the Government of India that “The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) would remain closed on November 19.” IGIA, located in New Delhi, is one of the world’s busiest airports.
As part of his concerted plan to promote terror acts in India to revive terrorism in India, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has been creating a false narrative around the issues prevailing in the State of Punjab, especially with regard to the Sikh religion, by promoting enmity between the Sikhs in the country and other communities.
The latest threat is in line with the same narrative, which Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has actively promoted in the past by threatening & attempting to disrupt essential transportation network systems, including the Railways, as well as Thermal Power Plants in India.
The Ministry of Home Affairs had, on July 10, 2019, banned SFJ as an ‘unlawful association’ under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for its activities. On July 1, 2020, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun was listed as an ‘individual terrorist’ by the Union Government.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has been under the NIA lens since 2019 when the anti-terror agency registered its first case against him.
In September 2023, the NIA confiscated his share of the house and land of the listed terrorists in Amritsar (Punjab) and Chandigarh Union Territory. Non-bailable warrants of arrest were issued against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun by the NIA Special Court on February 3, 2021, and he was declared a ‘Proclaimed Offender (PO)’ on November 29, 2022.
(with inputs from ANI)
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