Govt to attach Punjab assets of 2 Khalistani ultras based abroad

NEW DELHI: The central government has ordered the attachment of properties owned in Punjab by two foreignbased, 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. The agency is probing a case related 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 Centre to freeze or attach funds and other assets or economic resources held by, on behalf of or at the direction of individuals listed in the Schedule to the Order.
The list of Pannun’s attached properties in Amritsar includes 46 kanal land in Khankot village and 13.5 marlas in Sultanwind Subarban Bhainiwal. For Hardeep Nijjar, his 11 kanal 13 marla property in Bhar village in Phillaur, Jalandhar, stands attached.