Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has issued a chilling warning, advising travelers against flying Air India between November 1 and 19, claiming the airline may be targeted in an attack. The dates, he pointed out, align with the 40th anniversary of the anti-Sikh riots.
Pannun, the founder of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), made the statement on Monday, emphasizing the potential for an assault on Air India flights during this period. This fresh warning mirrors a similar threat he issued around the same time last year. Pannun, who holds dual citizenship in both Canada and the U.S., cited the Sikh genocide anniversary as the backdrop for his message.
His latest threats come at a time when Indian airlines have been on high alert, facing a slew of hoax bomb threats. Pannun's warning also coincides with escalating diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, triggered by allegations of Indian involvement in targeting Khalistani figures in Canada, including the murder of terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
In November 2023, Pannun released a video claiming that Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport would be renamed and would be shut down on November 19. He cautioned against flying Air India on that day. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has since charged Pannun with criminal conspiracy, inciting religious enmity, and multiple violations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Last year, in December, Pannun threatened to stage an attack on the Indian Parliament by December 13, aligning the date with the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist assault on Parliament. His threats came in response to reports of an alleged plot to assassinate him, which was foiled.
He also made ominous threats against Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the state's Director General of Police, Gaurav Yadav, warning of an attack on Republic Day. In a call for violence, he urged gangsters to unite and strike at Mann on January 26.
Designated as a terrorist by India's Ministry of Home Affairs in July 2020, Pannun faces charges of sedition and secessionism. He leads SFJ, a group that has long advocated for the creation of a separate Sikh state. In 2019, the Indian government outlawed SFJ, labeling it an unlawful organization due to its involvement in anti-national activities.
In a separate but related incident, on October 17, U.S. authorities charged a former officer of India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) for allegedly masterminding a foiled plot to assassinate Pannun. The Indian government has dismissed these accusations as unfounded.
published by dailybharat
