NEW DELHI: The UAPA Tribunal of Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta, a sitting judge of Delhi HC, Friday confirmed Centre’s July 8 notification declaring terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun-led Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) as an unlawful organisation for a period of five years.
SFJ was declared an unlawful organisation in 2019, when there were 11 FIRs registered against it under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Appearing for Centre, additional solicitor general S D Sanjay and advocate Rajat Nair gave details of additional 111 FIRs lodged against SFJ and its associates for terror-related activities between 2019 to 2024.
Justice Mendiratta found the evidence trustworthy about SFJ’s links with international Khalistani terror and separatist organisations, including Babbar Khalsa International, as also its links with Pakistan’s ISI and their attempts for revival of militancy in Punjab.
The tribunal saw merit in the evidence given by Centre on SFJ’s activities including recruitment & radicalisation of youth using social media, terror financing through smuggling networks for procurement of arms and explosives, issuance of death threats to politicians including the PM and home minister, and attempts to incite mutiny among Sikh soldiers of the Army.
Apart from evidence relating to activities to incite separatist activities and giving calls for burning the Tricolour, Centre provided the tribunal with details of attempts or conspiracies hatched to target critical infrastructure, including power generation and railways.
Centre had also provided details of attempts to disrupt events like G20 summit and activities to challenge India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The evidence included testimonies of 52 witnesses. The tribunal had proceeded with the matter ex-parte as SFJ did not contest the evidence.
