Punjab Police books banned SFJ’s Pannu, another member for sedition

A day after Gurpatwant Singh Pannu of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) was declared a designated terrorist by the Union Home Ministry under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Punjab Police on Thursday registered two separate FIRs, in Amritsar and Kapurthala, against him and his associates. The list includes an active SFJ member, Joginder Singh Gujjar, who reportedly came to India from Italy in February this year.

A police spokesperson said that Pannu, a pro-Khalistan activist who was actively involved in promoting terrorism in Punjab is among the nine most wanted men designated as terrorists under UAPA by the Ministry of Home Affairs for their efforts to revive militancy in Punjab and for their involvement in various acts of terrorism from foreign soil. The MHA has designated Pannu a terrorist for actively running a secessionist campaign against India and motivating sikh youth from Punjab to join their militant ranks.  

The Dalit Suraksha Sena (DSS) had filed a complaint against Gurpatwant Pannu and his associates, and got a case (FIR 168) registered against him at Police Station B/Division, Police Commissionerate Amritsar for burning the Indian Constitution and Indian National Flag, and instigating others to do so too, which had hurt the sentiments of the entire SC community in the country, spokesperson said.

 According to the spokesperson in its complaint, the Dalit Suraksha Sena said that Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, the self-styled legal advisor of the USA-based Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) organisation, and his accomplices were seen setting a copy of the Indian Constitution and the flag on fire, while shouting slogans of Khalistan Zindabad. Pannu was also seen inciting the entire sikh community against the Indian Constitution and in favour of Referendum 2020, said the complaint.