NIA books Khalistan terrorist & SFJ founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun for threatening Air India

The National Investigation Agency, or NIA, has registered a case against “listed terrorist” Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the founder of pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), over his video threatening passengers flying by Air India on 19 November.

Pannun had also threatened Air India Airlines with a global blockade and closure of the operations of the airline from 19 November.

On 4 November, Pannun had asked Sikhs to not fly on Air India planes on and after 19 November as their lives could be under threat.

He also issued a warning to the Government of India that “The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) would remain closed on the 19th of November.”

IGIA, located in New Delhi, is one of the world’s busiest airports.

“We are asking Sikhs not to fly AI on 19th November. There will be a global blockade and AI will not be allowed to fly anywhere across the world on 19th November. Sikhs, you do not travel by AI after 19th. It can be life-threatening,” Pannun had said.

“This is my warning to the government of India. The Indira Gandhi International Airport should remain closed on the 19th of November,” he said.

“It is the same day on which the final match of the World Terror Cup will be played. It will be shown to the world that a genocide of Sikhs happened in India and India did it. When we will liberate Punjab, the name of these airports will be Shahid Beant Singh and Shahid Satwant Singh Airport,” Pannun had said.

Also Read: WATCH: Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Pannun threatens to blow-up Air India flight on 19th Nov

On Monday (20 November), the NIA has booked Pannun under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc)  and 506  (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

The SFJ founder has also been charged under sections 10 (member of an unlawful association), 13 (for taking part in or committing or advocating any unlawful activity), 16 (terrorist act), 17 (funding terrorist act), 18 (conspiring or attempting to commit, or advocating, abetting, advising or inciting a terrorist act), 18B (for recruiting of any person or persons for terrorist act) & 20 (for being a member of a terrorist gang or a terrorist organization) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

“Pannun, the self-proclaimed General Counsel’ of the outlawed ‘unlawful Association’, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), is in the eye of the storm yet again following the release and circulation of video messages on various social media platforms urging the Sikhs not to fly on Air India planes on and after 19th November claiming threat to their lives if they flew on Air India. Pannun also threatened that Air India would not be allowed to operate in the world. Pannun’s assertions and threats have triggered a high alert as well as investigations by security forces in Canada, India and certain other countries where Air India flies,” NIA said in a release.

“As part of his concerted plan to promote terror acts in India to revive terrorism in India, Pannun has been creating a false narrative around the issues prevailing in the state of Punjab, especially with regard to Sikh religion, by promoting enmity between the Sikhs in the country and other communities. The latest threat is in line with the same narrative, which Pannun has actively promoted in the past by threatening and attempting to disrupt essential transportation network systems, including the Railways, as well as Thermal Power Plants in India,” the NIA said.

SFJ was banned by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India (GoI), on 10 July, 2019, as an ‘unlawful association’ under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for its activities.

On 1 July, 2020, Pannun was listed as an ‘individual terrorist’ by the Indian government.

Pannun has been under NIA lens since 2019, when the anti-terror agency registered its first case against him. In September 2023, the NIA had confiscated his share of the house and land of the lister terrorist in Amritsar (Punjab) and Chandigarh UT. Non-Bailable warrants of arrest were issued against Pannun by the NIA Special Court on 3rd February 2021 and he was declared a ‘Proclaimed Offender (PO)’ on 29 November 2022.