New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday conducted raids at premises of suspects at 14 locations in Punjab and Haryana having links with banned organisation Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), news agency ANI reported. The probe agency conducted the raids in coordination with Punjab and Haryana Police. The NIA action was based on inputs about some of the suspects having links with SFJ and its self-proclaimed General Counsel and designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
The NIA raids come two days after it registered a case against Pannun and SFJ over their video messages threatening Air India passengers, PTI reported.
In his video clip, Pannun urged Sikhs not to fly on Air India planes on and after November 19 as he claimed there was threat to their lives if they flew on Air India. Pannun also threatened that Air India would not be allowed to operate globally.
“Pannun is 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,” a statement issued by the NIA read, according to the news agency.
In one of his video messages, Pannun also issued a warning to the Government of India and said "The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) would remain closed on the 19th of November”, PTI reported.
A high alert was issued in the wake of Pannun’s messages and the security agencies swung into action in Canada, India and certain other countries where the Air India flights operate.
A case was also registered against Pannun under Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, PTI reported.