The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken significant steps in its crackdown on Khalistani activities. The agency has confiscated the properties belonging to terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who serves as a Khalistani leader and is the legal counsel for the banned terror group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). Furthermore, NIA has initiated the process to seize the property of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who met his demise in Canada in June of this year. These actions have been carried out in accordance with the directives of a CBI-NIA Special Court situated in Mohali.

NIA officials arrived at Gurpatwant Singh Pannun's property in Chandigarh's Sector 15-C and posted a confiscation notice. The notice says, “1/4th share of house no. # 2033 sector 15-C, Chandigarh, owned by Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, a ‘proclaimed offender’ in NIA case RC-19/2020/NIA/DLI, stands confiscated to the state under section 33(5) of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967 by orders of the NIA Special Court, Sas Nagar, Mohali, Punjab dated 14/09/2023. This is for information of the general public.”

Apart from the actions against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a special CBI-cum-NIA Court in Mohali affixed a property confiscation notice outside the residence of the deceased Khalistani terrorist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The house is located in Bharsingh Pura village in Jalandhar district. This notice is in line with the directives of the NIA Mohali court.

The notice summons Hardeep Singh Nijjar to court in response to NIA's application filed on September 11, seeking the confiscation of his property in Jalandhar. The notice says, “Hardeep Singh Nijjar @ Nijjar Son of Piara Singh, Resident of Village Bharsinghpura, PS Phillaur, District Jalandhar, Punjab (to be served upon him personally or through his family members/ agent.) You are hereby directed to appear in this Court regarding the application U/S 33(5) of UA(P) Act filed by NIA to confiscate Immovable property belonging to Hardeep Singh Nijjar @ Nijjar on 11.09.2023 AT 10:00 A.M. Herein fall not.”

According to an official statement, the NIA had approached a special court to confiscate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun's immovable properties under Section 33(5) of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), 1967.

Speaking with News18, an official said, “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.”

According to the received information, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun's confiscated properties comprise agricultural land in Village Khankot, Amritsar, and a share of House Number 2033, Sector 15/C, Chandigarh.

Pannun has been officially designated as an "individual terrorist" under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Amendment Act (UAPA). Multiple agencies are actively scrutinizing his activities, leading to various cases being filed against him.

In October of the previous year, Interpol responded to India's request for a Red Notice against Pannun. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the designated liaison with Interpol on India's behalf, received the NIA's Red Notice request. However, Interpol returned it with additional queries.

Notably, the terror organization Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) was banned in 2019 under Section 3(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. This decision was made due to its association with extremist and terrorist elements engaging in secessionist activities and violence within India. SFJ was primarily operated by a handful of radical Sikhs of foreign nationality, including the US, Canada, and the UK.

On July 10, 2019, the Indian government officially declared SFJ an unlawful association and imposed a five-year ban. The government's notification outlined the group's primary objective, which was to establish an independent and sovereign country in Punjab. It also highlighted SFJ's advocacy for the Khalistan cause and its challenge to India's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

This seizure of Pannun's properties occurs amid an ongoing diplomatic dispute between India and Canada concerning the alleged killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Ottawa has accused New Delhi of involvement in the matter, further exacerbating tensions between the two nations.

Image source: ANI