MOHALI: Sikh for Justice (SFJ), the pro-Khalistan terrorist organization General Counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannu has been booked by the State Cyber Crime Cell in Mohali on charges of promoting violent extremism and carrying out of violent terrorist acts in the state of Punjab.
He has been charged with abetting mutiny, abetment of desertion of soldier, sailor or airman, provocation with intent to cause riot, wanton vilification and offence at any place of worship.
Pannu also claims responsibility of Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) attack at Punjab Intelligence HQs in Mohali.
In the voice message, Pannu also threatened Himachal Pradesh CM to raise referendum 20-20 on June 6, 2022 on the day of voting in Himachal lest face consequences and said that CM must learn lessons from grenade attack at Mohali as it could have been Shimla HQs as well. Pannu also took responsibility of raising a Khalistani flag at Dharamshala HQ, and claimed to announce Khalistan referendum 20-20 on June 6 in Himachal.
On Monday, Inspector Vikas Bhatia, SHO Police Station State Cyber Crime, Mohali received a report from inspector Vikas Abrol, Incharge Social Media Monitoring Analysis Centre (SMAC).
According to an input, Sikh For justice (SFJ), an organisation declared as “Unlawful Association” by the government of India, has posted a new video on a YouTube channel named “SF J2SikhSoldiers” by Gurpatwant Singh Pannu gave a call to the Sikh soldiers serving the Indian army to stop defending Indian borders and to gather at Sri Akal Takht sahib to join the “Khalistan Referendum”.
He instigates them to be the part of war to liberate the state of Punjab from India. Apart from this a text message containing the same content as mentioned in video has also been circulated in WhatsApp groups.
Thus, by promoting violent extremism and carrying out of violent terrorist acts in the state of Punjab, Gurpatwant Singh Pannu has committed offences punishable under sections 153, 153-A, 153-B, 505(1), 506 IPC, 10,13 Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967.
In addition, Gurpatwant Singh Pannu has also committed unlawful activities being a member of a proscribed organization, which has been declared to be an unlawful Association by the government of India in exercise of powers conferred by Sub-sections (1) and (3) of section 3 of unlawful Activities (prevention) Act, 1967.
"Sikhs for Justice(SFJ), an organization based in the USA, was declared to be an "Unlawful Association" by a notification dated July 10, 2019 issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India after SFJ was found to be indulging in activities prejudicial to internal security of India and the public order and have the potential of disrupting peace, unity and integrity of the country.
In view of threats and for larger interest of the society and the state, taking cognizance of such circulation of provocative and threatening contents on social media a legal action has been initiated against content creator as well as the users of these social media platforms. In this regards a legal opinion has been sought from Law officer of BOI, Chandigarh who opined that prima facia case under section 131 (Abetting mutiny), 132, 135 (Abetment of desertion of soldier, sailor or airman), 153 (provocation with intent to cause riot),153-A (wanton vilification),153-B, 505 (offence at any place of worship) of the IPC may be registered against Gurpatwant Singh Pannu.
