India confiscates assets of Khalistan activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu

New Dehli: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India announced on Saturday the seizure of properties belonging to Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, a Khalistani activist accused of engaging in terrorist activities within India.

This development took place amid rising tensions between India and Canada concerning Sikh separatist issues.

The confiscated properties include a house and land owned by Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, located in the northern state of Punjab, India. According to a statement released by the NIA, this seizure represents a significant step in India's efforts to combat terrorism and separatism orchestrated from various foreign countries, including Canada.

Tensions between India and Canada intensified following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's remarks on Monday, acknowledging "credible allegations" connecting Indian government agents to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada. The slain leader had been an advocate for the establishment of an independent Sikh homeland known as "Khalistan."

Amid the diplomatic standoff between the two nations, videos surfaced on social media, showing Pannu making threats against Indian Hindus and urging them to leave Canada. These videos circulated on the 'X' platform, formerly known as Twitter.

Days after Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, the leader of the Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) issued threats to Canadian Hindus and called them to leave #Canada , the NIA in Amritsar and Chandigarh confiscated the properties of the US-based chief of the banned #Khalistani outfit. @szaffariqbal pic.twitter.com/CxWSgWiYO2

— Mojo Story (@themojostory) September 23, 2023

In 2019, the anti-terror agency had registered a case against Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, accusing him of propagating fear and terror in Punjab and various other parts of India. Later, non-bailable arrest warrants were issued against him by the NIA in February 2021, and he was declared a 'Proclaimed Offender (PO)' in November of the same year.