Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, founder of Sikhs for Justice, dead or alive? Find out here
Reports of the death of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, founder of the banned Sikhs for Justice organization, circulated on social media. Pannun, a designated terrorist, has been involved in activities promoting Khalistan.
The Khalistan movement continues to pose a significant challenge as recent incidents highlight its ongoing impact. Just two days ago, India's consulate in San Francisco was set on fire, and Khalistanis targeted two Indian diplomats in Canada. Furthermore, there are discussions of a Khalistan Freedom Rally planned for next week in Canada.
Amid this problem, social media was filled with reports last night (5 July) regarding the death of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the founder of the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) organization. However, hours later, a video emerged showing Pannun threatening the safety of Indian embassies, reported First Post.
It is crucial to note that neither the United States nor Indian authorities have confirmed his demise.
Who is Gurpatwant Singh Pannun?
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, believed to be 50-52 years old and hailing from Khankot village in Punjab's Amritsar district, founded the Sikhs for Justice group in the United States in 2007. The group aimed to advocate for self-determination for the Sikh people and the establishment of Khalistan. The Indian government has outlawed the outfit.
Pannun, using his legal background, filed cases against Indian politicians traveling to the United States or Canada, including prominent figures such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former PM Manmohan Singh. He has been designated as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) by the Indian government. Pannun has also issued threats to Prime Minister Modi and engaged in activities aimed at promoting Khalistan.
Is Pannun dead or alive?
Reports initially claimed that Pannun, who has been declared a terrorist by India, died in a road accident in the US while driving on Highway-101 in America. Twitter users shared news of his death, with the convenor of Mumbai’s BJP IT Cell @PallaviCT posting ‘unconfirmed reports’ on Pannun’s demise in a car accident.
However, there has been no official confirmation, leading to intense speculation, reported First Post.
Also read: Indian consulate in San Francisco set on fire by Khalistan supporters; US calls it criminal offense
Contradicting these reports, one Twitter user, Jaspinder Kaur, refuted the rumors and claimed that Pannun is “alive and well”. Sukhi Chahal, founder, CEO, and editor-in-chief of The Khalsa Today, also confirmed Pannun's well-being and urged everyone to refrain from spreading misinformation.
Adding to the confusion, hours later after reports of his demise there were conflicting reports suggesting that Pannun himself released a video stating that the SFJ would besiege Indian missions on Independence Day. In the video, Pannun warned of forthcoming actions by the Sikh community, he said, “You just wait, this is a start. On 15 August, the Sikh community is going to besiege every terror house that is an Indian embassy,” reported Hindustan Times.
Prior to all these reports, India Today had reported that Pannun had gone into hiding after the deaths of fellow Khalistanis, Hardeep Singh Nijjar and Avatar Singh Khanda in the UK. He went underground after his close aide, Hardeep Singh Nijjar (45), was shot dead by two unidentified assailants in Canada’s Surrey on 18 June, India Today reported. He stopped all activities and had not released any recent messages or videos in support of his close aide.
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Business NewsPoliticsKhalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, founder of Sikhs for Justice, dead or alive? Find out here
First Published:6 Jul 2023, 02:33 PM IST
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