The National Investigation Agency has lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against Khalistani extremist and Sikhs For Justice founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun over his recent video threatening passengers flying with Air India on November 19.
Designated as an ‘individual terrorist’ by India on July 1, 2020, Pannun recently released a video warning Sikhs against flying Air India on November 19 as it could be a threat to their life. Canada then said that it was investigating the warning issued by Pannun in a video circulating online.
“We take every threat seriously, especially when it concerns airlines,” news agency AFP quoted Transportation Minister Pablo Rodriguez as saying in Ottawa. Interacting with the Canadian media, however, Pannun claimed that his message was a call to boycott Indian businesses and not a threat. Canada is home to some 770,000 Sikhs, who make up about two percent of the overall population.
Pannun was booked in September this year in Ahmedabad over threats linked to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. In the FIR, the cybercrime branch of the Ahmedabad police said several persons received threats from the chief of SFJ via a pre-recorded voice message sent from a foreign number, reported The Indian Express.
The threats were allegedly sent in response to the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in June.
As of August 28, 2022, Pannun was booked in Punjab in 22 cases on charges including terror and sedition. “He is accused in numerous FIRs in Punjab. Punjab Police is pursuing the legal course through the Centre for Pannun’s extradition so that he is subjected to trial in the criminal cases registered against him,” Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav had then told The Indian Express.