A US-based Khalistani terrorist and leader of the extremist group, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun was booked by Punjab Police and National Investigation Agency (NIA) for promoting hatred among different religious groups and races on January 23, 2024.
Pannun has been accused of leading a role in advocating and commissioning terror acts and activities, amplifying fear and terror in Punjab and several parts of India in the past. He was declared a “Proclaimed Offender” on November 29, 2023. Special NIA court issued Non-bailable warrants of arrest against him on February 3, 2021. He has been on the lists of NIA for the past five years.
What does the viral video says?
Union Home Ministry alleged terrorist, Advocate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun posted a video on social media on January 23, 2024 claiming that Shri Durgiana Mandir in Amritsar had no historical significance and hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus and threatened the temple management to shut the temple and hand it over to the Golden Temple administration. The video got viral and Punjab Police registered a criminal case against him the same day.
Charges against Pannun
Pannun was declared a terrorist by the Union Home Ministry under the UAPA, 1967.
Following the recent activities of Pannun, he has been charged under:
1. Section 153(A) for promoting resentments among different groups on the grounds of religion, race, place of birth, language, residence, etc.
2. Section 153(B) for Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration.
3. Section 505 for statements contributing to public harm.
4. Section 66(F) for Cyber terrorism.
Sikhs for Justice (SFJ)
SFJ is a US-based group which supported the caucus of Punjab from Indian as Khalistan. This group was declared illegal and was banned in India in 2019 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
The reasons for the ban were claims that SFJ was a part of anti-national and troublesome activities, inciting violence, hatred and challenging the integrity and sovereignty of India. SFJ was claimed to support violent forms of extremism in Punjab and other parts of India to form an unbounded Khalistan. SFJ was withholding a campaign called, “Referendum 2020” which was declared illegal by the Indian Government was meant for the secession of Punjab state in India.
Sikh communities in India broadly denounce the activities of Pannun. He does not have any support from the Sikh clergy. Apart from the viral video, he has posted several similar videos of threatening religious groups and hurting sentiments of different groups. He issued a threat to people travelling via Air India on November 19, 2023 claiming that the lives of the passengers will be in danger and Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International airport must be shut on November 19. He also threatened the parliament on December 13, 2023, claiming that a conspiracy to kill him by Indian agencies had failed and he would attack the parliament. He captioned the video “Delhi banega Khalistan” (Delhi will turn into Khalistan).
