NIA seizes SFJ terrorist Pannun’s Punjab properties as crackdown on Khalistani separatists intensifies

In a major crackdown against designated Khalistani terrorist and Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) supremo Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, National Investigation Agency (NIA) has confiscated his properties in Chandigarh and Amritsar in Punjab today.

The properties include 46 kanal agricultural land in his ancestral village Khankot, Amritsar and share of a house at Sector 15/C, Chandigarh. The anti-terror federal agency NIA has also put a confiscation notice at the Jalandhar based property of slain Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

The act comes amidst the ongoing diplomatic tension between India and Canada and days after he threatened Indian Hindus residing in Canada to leave. He had also issued threats to Indian Diplomatic buildings across Canada.

The action is a big boost to the country’s crackdown on the terror and secessionist network being operated from various countries, including Canada.

The NIA had approached a special court for the confiscation of the immovable properties belonging to Pannun under section 33(5) of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), 1967, an official release said.

Banned organisation SFJ, run by a few radical Sikhs of foreign nationality in the US, Canada, the UK, etc, was declared unlawful under the provisions of Section 3(1) of UAPA.

The Centre by its July 10, 2019 notification had declared SFJ unlawful association and had banned it for five years, saying the group’s primary objective was to establish an “independent and sovereign country” in Punjab and it openly supports the cause of Khalistan and in that process, challenges the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India.

Multiple agencies have filed cases against Pannun who has been declared as an “individual terrorist” under the fourth schedule of UAPA.

“Pannun is accused in case RC-19/2020/NIA/DLI dated 05.04.2020 under sections 120-B, 124-A, 153-A 153-B and 17, 18 and 19 of UAPA. The case relates to funding of terrorist activities in Punjab from abroad, creating disharmony among communities and radicalising youth for terrorist activities. Non-Bailable warrants of arrest were issued against Pannu by the NIA Special Court on 3rd February 2021 and he was declared a ‘Proclaimed Offender (PO)’ on 29th November last year.,” NIA said.

Pannun has been known to fund and support anti India activities across the globe and has been riding high since a week after getting Canada’s open support. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s allegations that New Delhi had a hand in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar has given his malafide intentions a new boost.

Both countries have so far expelled a senior diplomat each and India has suspended visa services to Canada. The allegations have outrightly been rejected by New Delhi as “absurd” and “motivated”.