The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday conducted raids at 14 places in Punjab and Haryana, suspected of having links to the outlawed ‘unlawful Association’ Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), in close coordination with the Punjab and Haryana Police. The NIA initiated the raids based on specific inputs regarding certain suspects’ connections to the SFJ, commencing the operations early on Wednesday.
This action follows the NIA’s announcement two days ago to register a case against the ‘listed individual terrorist’ Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of the SFJ. This decision came after Pannun’s recent viral video in which he threatened passengers flying on Air India and the airline itself with a global blockade and closure of operations from November 19.
The NIA, on Monday, stated that Pannun is charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
In its statement, the NIA identified Pannun as the ‘self-proclaimed General Counsel’ of the outlawed SFJ, emphasizing his role in the recent controversy. Pannun’s video messages, circulated on various social media platforms, urged Sikhs to refrain from flying on Air India planes starting from November 19, citing a perceived threat to their lives. Additionally, he threatened that Air India would face worldwide restrictions.
Pannun’s statements have prompted a high alert and investigations by security forces in Canada, India, and other countries served by Air India. His video messages, released on November 4, not only called for a boycott of Air India but also warned of the closure of the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in New Delhi on November 19.
The NIA highlighted Pannun’s broader agenda of promoting terror acts in India to revive terrorism, particularly in Punjab. He has consistently created a false narrative around issues in the state, fostering enmity between Sikhs and other communities. This latest threat aligns with his previous attempts to disrupt essential transportation networks, such as railways, and thermal power plants in India.
The Ministry of Home Affairs had previously banned SFJ as an ‘unlawful association’ under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on July 10, 2019. Subsequently, on July 1, 2020, Pannun was designated as an ‘individual terrorist’ by the Central government. The NIA has been monitoring Pannun since 2019 when the agency registered its first case against him. In September 2023, the NIA seized his share of a house and land in Amritsar (Punjab) and Chandigarh Union Territory, following non-bailable warrants of arrest issued against him on February 3, 2021. Pannun was declared a ‘Proclaimed Offender (PO)’ on November 29, 2022.
