A case has been filed against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a designated terrorist, for making threats against people flying Air India and the airline itself, leading to a potential closure of operations starting from November 19, according to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The case has been registered under the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Pannun, who claims to be the general counsel of the banned organization Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), released video messages on November 4 urging Sikhs to refrain from flying on Air India planes after November 19, citing a possible threat to their lives. These messages were circulated on various social media platforms. As a result, security forces in Canada, India, and other countries where Air India operates initiated investigations and heightened security measures.
Pannun has been on the NIA’s radar since 2019 when the agency first filed a case against him. In September, the NIA seized his share of a property in Amritsar, Punjab, and Chandigarh. Non-bailable arrest warrants were issued against Pannun by an NIA Special Court on February 3, 2021, and he was declared a “Proclaimed Offender” on November 29 of the previous year.
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