News Brief
'Hamas-Like Attack In India': Khalistani Terrorist Pannun Threatens India As Canada, US Turn A Blind Eye
Nayan Dwivedi
Oct 11, 2023, 03:42 PM | Updated 03:42 PM IST
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Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) organization, has a track record of making inflammatory remarks and issuing threats against Indian officials.
In a recent online video, Pannun delivered a stark message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, drawing an analogy between the Israel-Palestine conflict and the potential for a similar "reaction" in India.
Pannun even went as far as suggesting the possibility of a "Hamas-like attack on India," referencing the devastating attack carried out by Hamas in Israel, which claimed over 1,000 lives, as reported by Business Today.
Pannun asserted, "People living under illegal occupation, from Punjab to Palestine, will react, and violence often begets more violence."
He also emphasized that if India continues to "occupy" Punjab, it would be held accountable for any ensuing repercussions.
In the same video, Pannun suggested that "the liberation of Punjab is on the horizon." He reiterated SFJ's commitment to peaceful democratic processes, advocating for change through the "ballot and vote."
This latest threat unfolds against the backdrop of a diplomatic standoff between India and Canada regarding the alleged assassination of designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar near a Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia.
In response to Pannun's threat to disrupt a World Cup match between India and Pakistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Gujarat, the Ahmedabad police recently registered an FIR against him.
Canada and the US have, however, not acted against him.
On 23 September, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) seized significant assets in Chandigarh and Amritsar linked to Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, citing violations of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Pannun, who resides in Canada, has been declared a wanted terrorist since 2020, facing more than 20 criminal charges in Punjab.
Pannun was issued non-bailable arrest warrants by the Special NIA Court on 3 February, 2021, and he was declared a "Proclaimed Offender" (PO) on 29 November of the same year.
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Nayan Dwivedi is Staff Writer at Swarajya.
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