The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday conducted searches at four places in Punjab as part of its investigation into a terror conspiracy case. The raids were conducted at the premises of terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu and the banned organization Sikh for Justice (SFJ) associated with him. The official statement said that NIA teams raided premises linked to the suspects in the case at one place in Moga, two places in Bathinda and one place in Mohali. The statement said that various materials, including digital devices, were seized during the raid, which are being investigated.
The NIA statement said that the case relates to a conspiracy hatched by Pannu along with other members of the SFJ. This action was taken in the case related to terrorism-related activities and promotion of violence by Pannu. The agency had registered a case against Pannu and SFJ on November 17, 2023 for issuing video messages threatening Air India passengers.
Pannu has dual US-Canada citizenship
It is worth noting that Gurpatwant Singh Pannu has filed a lawsuit in a US court against the Indian government and some Indian officials. India rejected it on Thursday, calling it completely unfair and baseless. Pannu, the head of the radical group SFJ, has filed a civil suit in a US federal district court seeking damages for the failed attempt to assassinate him on American soil last year. In November last year, US federal prosecutors accused Indian citizen Nikhil Gupta of working in connivance with an Indian government employee in a failed plot to assassinate Pannu in New York. Pannu, wanted in India on terrorism charges, has dual citizenship of the US and Canada.
Ban on Sikh for Justice extended for 5 years
The Home Ministry recently extended the ban on the pro-Khalistan group Sikh for Justice, founded by Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, for 5 years. The notification said that SFJ was declared a banned organization under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act five years ago. The central government is of the opinion that SFJ is involved in activities that are harmful to the integrity and security of the country. It is involved in anti-national and subversive activities in Punjab and elsewhere. Their aim is to harm the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India. SFJ is in close contact with terrorist organizations. It is supporting extremism and violent form of extremism in Punjab and elsewhere to create a sovereign Khalistan from the territory of India.
