Punjab Police file 2 FIRs against Gurpatwant Pannu and his associates on charges of sedition, secessionism
Tribune News Service
Amritsar/Kapurthala, July 2
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, the Punjab Police on Thursday registered two separate FIRs, in Amritsar and Kapurthala, against him and his associates, including an active SFJ member, Joginder Singh Gujjar, who reportedly came to India from Italy in February this year.
Pannu, a pro-Khalistan activist who Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had recently said was actively involved in promoting terrorism in Punjab, is among the nine wanted men designated as terrorists under UAPA by the Ministry of Home Affairs yesterday 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 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.
In its complaint, the Dalit Suraksha Sena said Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, the self-styled legal advisor of the USA-based Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) organisation, and his accomplices were seen dishonouring the Indian Constitution and the Indian national flag in a video.
They 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.
The complaint said these abhorrent actions of the individuals in question had brazenly dishonoured the ideals on which the Indian state has been established and thereby, had hurt the sentiments of the entire SC community.
According to the police spokesperson, immediate action was necessitated in pursuance to the reception of the above complaint as Gurpatwant Singh Pannu and his associates were found to be involved in the commission of seditious acts through their actions and words, both spoken and written, thus attempting to create a communal divide, as well as instigating disaffection towards the government established by law in India.
In addition, he and his associates have also committed unlawful activities, being members of a proscribed organisation and thus, Gurpatwant Singh Pannu and his associates have committed offences punishable under Section 2 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971; Section 504, 124-A and 153-A of the Indian Penal Code; Sections 10(a) and 13(1) of UAPA and Section 3 of the SC/ST Act.
The second FIR, registered at PS Bhulath, district Kapurthala, is based on reliable inputs of entry of Joginder Singh Gujjar alias Goga in India in February 2020, a police spokesperson said, adding that Pannu and his associates have been charged with seditious and secessionist activities in the case.
The FIR (No. 49) has been registered under sections 10 (a) & (b), 11, 13 (1) and 17 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 against Joginder Singh Gujjar @ Goga S/o Avtar singh R/o Akala, Bhulath, and against USA-based Pannu and their associates members of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), according to the police spokesperson.
The spokesperson said it had been learnt that Joginder Singh is a prominent and active member of SFJ, which was declared to be an ‘unlawful organisation’ by the MHA (GoI) on July 10, 2019. Joginder Singh, at the behest of Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, with whom he is in regular contact for promoting the activities of SFJ, was reportedly providing financial assistance to SFJ operatives/activists based in Punjab/India and abroad.
It has also came to light that Joginder Singh Gujjar @ Goga had visited Geneva, Switzerland in November, 2019, to attend and actively participate in the anti-India convention organised by SFJ.
Thus, Joginder Singh along with Pannu was learnt to be actively propagating secessionist activities and promoting activities aimed at the division of India under the banner of ‘Referendum 2020’ in Punjab as well as abroad.
It may be noted that Pannu was declared a ‘terrorist’ vide Notification dated 1st July 2020 under clause (a) of subsection (1) of section 35 of UAPA, and his name was notified in the Fourth Schedule of the said Act.
