Chandigarh: The Government of India (GoI) has ordered attachment of immovable properties of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and Hardeep Singh Nijjar under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
According to National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India, the GoI in exercise of powers conferred under Section 51A of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967, has ordered for attachment of the immovable properties of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in District Amritsar, Punjab and Hardeep Singh Nijjar in District Jalandhar, Punjab.
National Investigation Agency (NIA) is investigating case RC-02/2019/NIA/DLI relating to a campaign launched by ‘Sikhs for Justice’ under the banner of ‘Sikh Referendum 2020’. According to NIA written release (copy available with SSN), the investigation agency has identified immovable properties belonging to Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in District Amritsar, and Hardeep Singh Nijjar in District Jalandhar, and moved Government for attachment of these properties under the provisions of the UA(P)Act, 1967.
Government of India has labled Sikhs for Justice as an ‘Unlawful Association’ under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 vide its notification dated 10.07.2019.
In a notification dated 01/07/2020, the GoI also labeled Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, and Hardeep Singh Nijjar as ‘terrorist’ in the Fourth Schedule to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
Notably, various Sikh organizations have condemned GoI’s move to label Sikhs as so-called terrorists.