New Delhi: India had sought a red corner notice against the founder of the pro-khalistan group Sikhs for Justice, Gurpatwant Singh Pannu for conspiracy against the country through separatist organisations, which was turned down by the International Criminal Police Organisation, commonly known as Interpol, officials said Wednesday as reported by news agency PTI.
Pannu is the founder and legal advisor of the separatist organisation Sikh for Justice. This was the second consecutive attempt by the Government of India to issue a Red Corner Notice against Pannu. But it was rejected by Interpol saying that Indian agencies are not able to provide enough evidence against Pannu.
India is trying to detain the hardline leaders of all the organisations which have been banned by the Government of India. But this move of Interpol has dealt a blow to the security agencies. Not only this, the UAPA under which India had sought to issue a notice against Pannu, Interpol has also raised questions on that.
In July 2019, the MHA declared SFJs an "unlawful association" for indulging in activities that are prejudicial to the internal security and public order of India, and to disrupt the peace, unity and integrity of the country. According to the Interpol website, red corner notices have been issued to 279 persons at the request of Indian law enforcement agencies, including 200 Indian nationals. These include gangster Dawood Ibrahim and some Sikh separatists.
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What Is 'Sikh For Justice'?
There are many organisations in Punjab demanding Khalistan. Sikh for Justice is one of them. It was started in the US in 2007. Pannu sees all its work. The purpose of SFJ is to separate Punjab from India and make Khalistan. Khalistan means the country of Khalsa. This organisation has been accused of funding from Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI. The Sikh for Justice organisation was banned by the central government in July 2019 after talks of his Pakistan connection surfaced.
Many Cases Against Pannu In India
Pannu is a most wanted terrorist in India based in America. On 1 July 2020, he was declared a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Since then, a case of sedition is going on against him in Amritsar and Kapurthala. Later the NIA also ordered the confiscation of his immovable properties located in Amritsar under Section 51A of UAPA 1967. Pannu, the self-proclaimed kingpin of SFJ, keeps conspiring to create disturbances in Punjab and Haryana by sitting abroad.
Pannu has also been at the center of the attack by Khalistan supporters on the anti-Khalistan march in Patiala. Pannu once promised an iPhone to Indian youth in return for supporting Khalistan and raising its flag. There were also allegations of supporting the farmers' movement against the three agricultural laws.