Srinagar, Dec 09 (KINS): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge-sheet against 16 foreign-based Khalistanis in ‘Referendum 2020’ (Sikhs for Justice) case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for their alleged involvement in seditious activities and promoting enmity on the grounds of region and religion in the country.
The 16 are based in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada and are members of Sikh for Justice (SFJ), which has been declared as ‘Unlawful Association’ under the UAPA.
The accused Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Hardeep Singh Nijjar and Paramjit Singh have been designated as “terrorists” by a home ministry notification under the anti-terror law. Pannun stays in the US, Nijjar is at present in Canada and Singh is in the UK.
Others mentioned in the chargesheet are Avtar Singh Pannun, Harpreet Singh, Amardeep Singh Purewal, Harjaap Singh, Sarabjit Singh and S Himmat Singh (all from the US); Gurpreet Singh Baagi, Sarabjit Singh Bannur, Kulwant Singh Mothada, Dupinderjit Singh and Kulwant Singh (from the UK) and JS Dhaliwal and Jatinder Singh Grewal (from Canada).
According to the NIA chargesheet, the seven accused from the US, six from the UK and three from Canada were involved in an organised conspiracy for launching a concerted secessionist campaign under the banner of ‘Referendum 2020’ for the creation of ‘Khalistan’.(KINS)
