The Khalistan separatist had earlier released a video urging Sikhs not to fly via Air India after November 19 as their lives could be under threat.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has booked designated ‘individual terrorist’ Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, the founder of the banned outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 for allegedly threatening passengers flying via Air India and the airlines itself with a global blockade and closure of operations from November 19.
Security arrangements at three airports, Ahmedabad, Amritsar and Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi, were recently stepped up after the Ministry of Home Affairs held a meeting with the multi-agency centre (MAC), a common counter-terrorism grid, and discussed the threats issued by Pannu. The Khalistan separatist had earlier released a video urging Sikhs not to fly via Air India after November 19 as their lives could be under threat.
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An NIA spokesperson said they have booked Pannu under IPC sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 506 (threatening), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups) and sections 10, 13, 16, 17, 18, 18B & 20 of the UAPA.
“The NIA has registered an FIR against him (Pannu) over his latest viral video threatening the passengers flying and Air India airlines with a global blockade and closure of operations of the airline from November 19. Pannu’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,” the spokesperson said.
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According to the NIA, as part of his concerted plan to promote terror acts in India, Pannu has been creating a false narrative around the issues prevailing in Punjab, especially with regard to the Sikh religion. “The latest threat is in line with the same narrative which Pannu has actively promoted in the past by threatening and attempting to disrupt essential transportation network systems, including the Railways, as well as thermal power plants in India,” the spokesperson said.
The MHA had banned SFJ on July 10, 2019 under the UAPA for its activities. Pannu was designated an ‘individual terrorist’ on July 1, 2020. “He has been under NIA’s lens since 2019, when the anti-terror agency registered its first case against him. In September 2023, the NIA had confiscated his share of house and land in Amritsar (Punjab) and Chandigarh UT. Non-bailable warrants were issued against Pannu by NIA special court on February 3, 2021 and he was declared a ‘Proclaimed Offender (PO)’ on November 29, 2022,” the spokesperson said.
In September, an FIR was registered in Ahmedabad against Pannu over threats linked to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. In the FIR, the cybercrime branch of the Ahmedabad police said several persons received threats from the SFJ chief via a pre-recorded voice message sent from a foreign number. The threats were allegedly sent in response to the texting of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in June.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
First published on: 20-11-2023 at 18:35 IST
