New Delhi: The Delhi Police Special Cell has registered an FIR against Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun for allegedly issuing threats to create unrest in the national capital ahead of Republic Day on January 26, officials said.
The case has been registered under Sections 196 (promoting enmity), 197 (imputations prejudicial to national integration), 152 (acts endangering sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India), and 61 (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to police sources, Pannun recently released a video on social media claiming that his “sleeper cells” had put up pro-Khalistan posters in Rohini and Delhi areas of the national capital.
However, following verification, the Special Cell has so far not found any pro-Khalistani posters at the locations mentioned by Pannun. Earlier on Wednesday, the Delhi Police alert posters for Republic Day on January 26 featured a picture of a terrorist identified as Mohammed Rehan, an Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) terrorist from Delhi. The terrorist’s photo was included for the first time, an official stated.
According to the Delhi Police, Mohammed Rehan is a wanted terrorist by the Delhi Police and intelligence agencies.
Ahead of the 77th Republic Day celebrations, Delhi Police has put in place an extensive, technology-driven security apparatus across Kartavya Path and the entire New Delhi district, in view of multiple terror-related threat inputs received from intelligence agencies. This year, the seating areas for the Republic Day celebrations have been named after Indian rivers. Several important changes have also been made to the security deployment pattern, keeping the guests’ convenience and safety in mind.
According to Additional Commissioner of Police, New Delhi District, Devesh Kumar Mahala, a multilayered security cordon comprising Delhi Police and paramilitary forces has been deployed in the Kartavya Path area. The entire area is under surveillance through an extensive network of CCTV cameras, integrated with an advanced facial recognition system (FRS). He further mentioned that around 10,000 police personnel will be deployed on this national day, and the briefings have been conducted nine times on the ground.
“Republic Day is celebrated on a fixed time and is observed in Kartvya Path. In view of this, there is a security standard protocol, which has been implemented. Around 10,000 police personnel will be on duty. We have conducted briefings and rehearsals 9 times on the ground,” Mahala told.
In addition, anti-drone units have been deployed for aerial surveillance, and sniper teams have been positioned on high-rise buildings. To prevent any potential threats, an intensive verification drive of hotels, guest houses, tenants, and domestic helpers is being carried out across the district.
