Centre orders attachment of properties by two pro-Khalistan terrorists banned under UAPA

NEW DELHI: The Central government has ordered the attachment of properties owned in Punjab by two foreign-based, pro-Khalistan terrorists banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 -- Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the brain behind Sikhs for Justice’s (SFJ) ‘Referendum 2020’ campaign and his associate Hardeep Singh Nijjar who heads the Khalistan Tiger Force. This is the first case of attachment of property of an ‘individual’ terrorist included in Fourth Schedule of the Act, inserted through an amendment last year.
The two properties owned by US-based Pannun and Canada-based Nijjar in Amritsar and Jalandhar respectively, were identified by NIA during the course of its investigation into a case relating to Sikh extremism. The case relates to a concerted campaign launched by Sikhs for Justice under the banner ‘Sikh Referendum 2020’ for creation of ‘Khalistan’.
Based on the list of Pannun and Nijjar’s properties furnished by NIA, the home ministry ordered their attachment, invoking its powers under Section 51A of the UAPA. The provision empowers Central government to freeze, seize or attach funds and other financial assets or economic resources held by, on behalf of or at the direction of individuals listed in the Schedule to the Order.
The order of attachment, as per the procedure, is sent to the land revenue officer concerned –usually the district magistrate, as per an NIA official – for execution. The respondent can seek legal recourse by appealing against the attachment order.
The list of Pannun’s attached properties in Amritsar includes 46 kanal land in Khankot village and 11 kana 13.5 marlas in Sultanwind Subarban Bhainiwal. For Hardeep Nijjar, his 11 kanal 13 marla property in Bhar village in Phillaur, Jalandhar, stands attached.
Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) is presently making efforts to propagate ‘Sikh Referendum-2020’ on social media, said NIA. This outfit is also trying to hold meetings at certain places in the US and other countries to instigate and mobilize diaspora for its secessionist agenda.
Government of India had declared Sikhs for Justice as an ‘unlawful association’ under UAPA in July 2019. Exactly a year later, it designated Pannun, Nijjar and few others as ‘terrorist’ in the Fourth Schedule.