NEW DELHI: The National Investing Agency on Friday swooped up several locations in Punjab in a terror-conspiracy case linked to Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and his banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ).
The central probing agency conducted searches at one location in Moga, two locations in Bathinda and one location in Mohali, at premises connected with suspects in the case.
According to officials, searches led to the seizure of various incriminating materials, including digital devices, which are under examination.
In a statement, the NIA said that the case pertains to a conspiracy allegedly hatched by Pannun with other members of the SFJ
"The NIA on Friday conducted searches at four locations across Punjab in a case related to the promotion of terror-related activities and violence by SFJ leader Gurupatwant Singh Pannun," it added.
The agency had registered the case against Pannun and the SFJ on November 17, 2023, for issuing video messages threatening Air India passengers.
He had asked Sikhs not to travel on Air India planes on and after November 19 last year, claiming that there was a threat to their lives if they opted for the airline. The listed terrorist had also threatened that Air India would not be allowed to operate globally.
NIA's action comes a day after a civil lawsuit was filed by Pannun in the US against high-ranking Indian officials claiming that there was a conspiracy orchestrated by Indian officials to assassinate him, which he alleges was thwarted when the hired hitmen turned out to be undercover US agents.
Reacting to the summons, foreign secretary Vikram Misri said: "As we have said earlier, these are completely unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations. Now that this particular case has been lodged. It doesn't change our views about the underlying situation."
"I would only invite your attention to the person behind this particular case whose antecedents are well known. I would also underline the fact that the organisation so-called that this person represents is an unlawful organisation, has been declared as such under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act of 1967 and it has been done so on account of its involvement in anti-national and subversive activities aimed at disrupting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India," Misri said during a press interaction.
The ministry of external affairs reacted sharply to the civil lawsuit filed. Pannun has been under the NIA's lens since 2019 when the anti-terror agency registered its first case against him.
The central probing agency conducted searches at one location in Moga, two locations in Bathinda and one location in Mohali, at premises connected with suspects in the case.
According to officials, searches led to the seizure of various incriminating materials, including digital devices, which are under examination.
In a statement, the NIA said that the case pertains to a conspiracy allegedly hatched by Pannun with other members of the SFJ
"The NIA on Friday conducted searches at four locations across Punjab in a case related to the promotion of terror-related activities and violence by SFJ leader Gurupatwant Singh Pannun," it added.
The agency had registered the case against Pannun and the SFJ on November 17, 2023, for issuing video messages threatening Air India passengers.
He had asked Sikhs not to travel on Air India planes on and after November 19 last year, claiming that there was a threat to their lives if they opted for the airline. The listed terrorist had also threatened that Air India would not be allowed to operate globally.
NIA's action comes a day after a civil lawsuit was filed by Pannun in the US against high-ranking Indian officials claiming that there was a conspiracy orchestrated by Indian officials to assassinate him, which he alleges was thwarted when the hired hitmen turned out to be undercover US agents.
Reacting to the summons, foreign secretary Vikram Misri said: "As we have said earlier, these are completely unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations. Now that this particular case has been lodged. It doesn't change our views about the underlying situation."
"I would only invite your attention to the person behind this particular case whose antecedents are well known. I would also underline the fact that the organisation so-called that this person represents is an unlawful organisation, has been declared as such under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act of 1967 and it has been done so on account of its involvement in anti-national and subversive activities aimed at disrupting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India," Misri said during a press interaction.
The ministry of external affairs reacted sharply to the civil lawsuit filed. Pannun has been under the NIA's lens since 2019 when the anti-terror agency registered its first case against him.
