NIA Files Chargesheet Against 16 foreign based Khalistanis in Referendum 2020 ( Sikhs for Justice) Case

 

New Delhi. Today (09.12.2020), NIA filed Charge sheet against 16 accused persons before the NIA Special Court, New Delhi in RC 02/2019/NIA/DLI ( Referendum 2020/SFJ case) registered u/s 120B, 124A, 153A, 153B and 505 of IPC and 13, 17 and 18 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

The case pertains to organized conspiracy by the accused for launching a concerted secessionist campaign under the banner of ‘Referendum 2020’ for creation of ‘Khalistan’.

The chargesheeted accused are i) Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, r/o New York, USA; ii) Avtar Singh Pannun, r/o New York, USA; iii) Gurpreet Singh Baagi r/o UK; iv) Harpreet Singh@Rana Singh r/o New York, USA; v) Paramjit Singh @Pamma, r/o UK; vi) Sarabjit Singh Bannur, r/o UK; vii) Amardeep Singh Purewal @Amardeep Singh Khalsa, r/o California, USA; viii) J S Dhaliwal, r/o Canada; ix) Kulwant Singh Mothada r/o UK, x) Dupinderjit Singh, r/o UK; xi) Hardeep Singh Nijjar, r/oCanada; xii) Kulwant Singh @ Kanta @Mann Singh Khalsa, r/o UK; xiii) Harjaap Singh @Japhi Singh, r/o California, USA; xiv) Sarabjit Singh @Sabi Singh, r/o California, USA; xv) Jatinder Singh Grewal, r/o Canada; and xvi) S Himmat Singh, r/o New York, USA. The above individuals are members of Sikh for Justice, an organization declared as ‘Unlawful Association’ under UA(P) Act.

Investigation in the case has revealed that Sikh for Justice, a secessionist outfit floated in the garb of ‘Human Rights advocacy group’ with its offices in various foreign countries like the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia etc, is a frontal organization of Khalistan terrorist outfits operating from foreign soils including Pakistan. Under this campaign numerous social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, YouTube Channels and a number of websites have been launched, which are being used to propagate sedition as well as enmity on the grounds of region and religion, to radicalise impressionable youth, to cause disturbance to peace and harmony and to raise funds for terrorist activities. SFJ has been attempting to undermine the security of the Indian State by instigating Sikh personnel in the Indian army to rise up in mutiny against India. SFJ is also trying to radicalize youth of Kashmir and openly extending support for secession of Kashmir from India.

Based on the dossiers provided by NIA and other agencies, the chief patrons of SFJ namely Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Hardeep Singh Nijjar and Paramjit Singh @ Pamma have already been designated as ‘Terrorist’ under UA(P)Act. During the course of investigation, NIA identified immovable properties belonging to terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in District Amritsar, Punjab and terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in District Jalandhar, Punjab. Based on the request of NIA, the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, in exercise of powers conferred under Section 51-A of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967, has ordered attachment of these properties.