NIA files chargesheet against 16 foreign based Khalistanis in Referendum 2020 case

New Delhi:The anti-terror probe agency NIA said that it has filed a chargesheet in Referendum 2020 that is Sikhs for Justice case against 16 accused persons at NIA Special Court here.

They have been chargesheeted  under sections  120B, 124A, 153A, 153B and 505 of IPC and 13, 17 and 18 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The case pertains to organized conspiracy by the accused for launching a concerted secessionist campaign under the banner of 'Referendum 2020' for creation of 'Khalistan'. 

The dossiers provided by NIA and other agencies, the chief patrons of SFJ namely Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Hardeep Singh Nijjar and Paramjit Singh aka Pamma have already been designated as 'Terrorist' under amended UA(P)Act.

The other  charge sheeted accused are  Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Avtar Singh Pannun, Harpreet Singh alias Rana Singh, S Himmat Singh, Amardeep Singh Purewal aka Amardeep Singh Khalsa, Harjaap Singh, Sarabjit Singh alias Sabi Singh (all from USA), Gurpreet Singh Baagi, Paramjit Singh aka Pamma, Sarabjit Singh Bannur, Kulwant Singh Mothada, Dupinderjit Singh, Kulwant Singh aka Kanta, (all from UK), JS Dhaliwal, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Jatinder Singh Grewal (all from Canada) who are  members of Sikh for Justice, an organization declared as 'Unlawful Association' under UA(P) Act. 

 According to NIA, the investigation so far in this case  has revealed that Sikhs for Justice, a secessionist outfit floated in the garb of 'Human Rights advocacy group' with its offices in various foreign countries like the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, is a frontal organization of Khalistan terrorist outfits operating from foreign soils including Pakistan. 

Under this campaign numerous social media accounts on FaceBook, Twitter, Whatsapp, YouTube Channels and a number of websites have been launched, which  are being used to propagate sedition as well as enmity on the grounds of region and religion, to radicalise impressionable youth, to cause disturbance to peace and harmony and to raise funds for terrorist activities, the NIA officials further said. 

"SFJ has been attempting to undermine the security of the Indian State by instigating Sikh personnel in the Indian army to rise up in mutiny against India. SFJ is also trying to radicalize youth of Kashmir and openly extending support for secession of Kashmir from India", they added. 

 During the course of investigation, NIA identified immovable properties belonging to terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in District Amritsar  and terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in District Jalandhar and on the basis of the  request made by the NIA, the  Union Home  Ministry in exercise of powers conferred under Section 51-A of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967, has ordered attachment of these properties, the probe agency officials said, adding that further investigation in the case  has been continued.(UNI)