NIA Raids 14 Premises In Punjab And Haryana Linked To Terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Banned Outfit Sikhs For Justice

On Wednesday, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out searches at 14 locations in Punjab and Haryana. These properties are linked to the banned 'unlawful Association' Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), its self-declared General Counsel, and the recognized individual terrorist, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

Search operations are being conducted in various locations, including Khanna and Moga in Punjab, as well as Yamuna Nagar and Kurukshetra in Haryana, among 14 others. These raids have been ongoing since morning, carried out in tight collaboration with the Punjab and Haryana Police.

The NIA teams carried out the raids based on specific inputs regarding certain suspects having links to the SFJ and Pannun.

The move comes two days after the NIA announced to file a case against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a 'listed individual terrorist' from the SFJ.

This action was in response to Pannun's recent viral video, where he threatened passengers of Air India and the airline itself with a global blockade and closure of its operations starting 19 November.

Pannun has been charged by the NIA under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, as well as sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967.

In a statement, the NIA said "Pannun is the the self-proclaimed General Counsel' of the outlawed 'unlawful Association' SFJ, and 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 November 19 claiming threat to their lives if they flew on Air India," news agency ANI reported.

Pannun also issued a warning, stating that Air India would be prohibited from operating globally.

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.

In the video messages that he released on 4 November, Pannun had appealed to Sikhs to cease using Air India for their travel from that date forward, due to a possible risk to their lives.

He further cautioned the Indian Government, stating that "The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) would remain closed on November 19th." The IGIA, situated in New Delhi, ranks among the globe's most congested airports.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had, on 10 July 2019, banned SFJ 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 Central government.