New Delhi: The Gujarat Police has registered a first information report (FIR) against designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu for trying to “spoil the atmosphere” ahead of the India-Pakistan ICC World Cup match on 14 October.
Pannun has been charged with attempting to wage war, provocation, inciting a class or community, and sending offensive information, other than clauses under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Ahmedabad’s Deputy Commissioner of Police, Cyber Crime, Ajit Rajian told the news agency ANI: “Threatening pre-recorded messages on various social media handles were published and an attempt was made to spoil the atmosphere.”
A US-based lawyer, Pannun is a designated terrorist in India and the founder of the banned organisation Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).
Reports surfaced Thursday about a menacing call allegedly made by the pro-Khalistani Pannun.
Many people in India received the call from a UK phone number +44 7418 343648 wherein the pre-recorded audio message was played.
A belligerent voice is heard threatening to derail the 10-nation ICC one-day international championship that gets underway on 5 October.
“Remember on 5 October, it will not be the World Cricket Cup, it will be the beginning of the World Terror Cup… this message is from Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, SFJ general counsel,” the voice says, adding this was in response to the 28 June killing of Canada-based terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Nijjar’s murder is at the centre of a massive diplomatic showdown between Canada and India after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau linked it to Indian agents. India has denied the allegation as “absurd and motivated”.
The voice further says in the clip: “India and the Modi regime have insulted Prime Minister Trudeau. Modi regime, it is advisable that you shut down your embassy in Ottawa and bring back your ambassador (Sanjay Kumar) Verma. This advice is from the Canadians and this advice is from Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the SFJ general council. We are going to hold Modi and Ambassador Verma accountable for disrespecting Prime Minister Trudeau. It’s very wise to bring back Verma and shut down the Ottawa embassy.”
Another viral video of Pannun had surfaced last week, in which he asked Hindus in Canada to “go back to India”.
On 23 September, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) confiscated Pannun’s properties in Amritsar and Chandigarh.
The NIA has had Pannun on its crosshairs since 2019, accusing him of “misusing cyberspace to radicalise gullible youth and to instigate them to undertake terrorist crimes and activities”.
Subsequent to NIA findings, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) declared Pannun’s Sikhs For Justice an “Unlawful Association” in 2019. The government also declared him a “designated individual terrorist”.
There are multiple non-bailable warrants against Pannun, who was labelled a proclaimed offender in November last year.
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