Interpol gave a blow to India, why did not issue a notice against Khalistani supporter Pannu?

Posted on 12th Oct 2022 by rohit kumar

The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) has refused to issue a Red Corner Notice against Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannoon on terrorism charges. India had asked Interpol to issue a Red Corner Notice against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. But now in response, Interpol has asked some questions from India itself. Interpol says that Indian officials could not provide enough information on this matter.

 

Earlier, the Central Bureau of Investigation had submitted all the inputs given by Indian agencies to Interpol, but Interpol has asked some questions while returning India's request. Some media reports have claimed that Interpol has questioned India's anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). If media reports are to be believed, Interpol said that UAPA has been criticized. Criticism has been made for targeting minority groups and for being used against the rights of other activists.

 

Government sources insisted that Interpol did not flag any "misuse" of the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, NDTV reported. The claims made in the media reports are false. Reports said that Interpol has also considered Pannu to be a 'high-profile Sikh separatist'. According to Interpol, the SFJ is a group that demands an independent Khalistan. Despite this, Interpol maintains that its activities have a clear political purpose, which cannot be the subject of a Red Corner Notice following Interpol's constitution.

 

Pannu, the Canada-based founder and legal advisor of the pro-Khalistan organization Sikh for Justice (SFJ), has several cases registered against him. Pannu was named as the prime accused in May in connection with the installation and painting of the 'Khalistan' banner on the walls of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly in Dharamsala. His organization, Sikhs for Justice, was banned by the Center in 2019 for anti-India activities.

 

Who is Gurpatwant Singh Pannu?

 

Originally from Khankot village near Amritsar, Pannu graduated in law from Panjab University. Her father, Mahinder Singh, was a former employee of the Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Board. Pannu was one of three siblings. He is currently a lawyer in the US and lives in both Canada and the US. Pannu was one of the founders of the US-based separatist organization Sikh for Justice (SFJ). SFJ claims to be "an international advocacy and human rights group". It was established in 2007.

 

In January this year, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for those providing information about SFJ member Jaswinder Singh Multani, who was responsible for carrying out terror attacks in Mumbai and some other parts of India. Wanted to conspire with ISI operatives.

 

Multani, a close aide of Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, had come to the notice of agencies for arranging and sending consignments of explosives containing explosives to Punjab from across the border. These weapons were sent with the help of his Pakistan-based operatives and arms smugglers. He had allegedly planned to carry out terrorist activities in Punjab using consignments smuggled through gangsters and extremists in the state.

 

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