NIA Confiscates Properties of Sikhs For Justice Leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun | Exclusive

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has confiscated the properties of designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a member of the banned pro-Khalistani group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).

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.

This is the first time properties of someone absconding and accused under section 33(5) of the UAPA have been confiscated by the NIA, a significant departure from when properties used to be seized and could be contested in courts.

Fringe 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 the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

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 espouses 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 (Unlawful Activities Prevention Amendment Act).

The action comes amid a diplomatic low between India and Canada over Ottawa’s allegations that New Delhi had a hand in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Both countries expelled a senior diplomat each earlier this week after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged the involvement of “agents of the Indian government” in the killing of 45-year-old Nijjar, a prominent Sikh separatist leader, in Surrey in June. The claims were outrightly rejected by New Delhi as “absurd” and “motivated”.

“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 Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The case relates to funding of terrorist activities in Punjab from abroad, creating disharmony among communities and radicalising youth for terrorist activities,” an official told News18.

“The properties include agricultural land in Village Khankot, Amritsar and share of House Number 2033, Sector 15/C, Chandigarh.”

In October last year, the Interpol had sent back India’s request seeking a Red Notice against Pannun. The Central Bureau of Investigation, which is the national central bureau of India to liaison with the Interpol, had sent the request of the NIA seeking Red Notice against Pannun but it was returned with further queries.