New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has declared nine wanted men, including Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) as designated terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The nine designated Khalistani terrorists include Pakistan-based chiefs of the banned organisations, Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) chief Wadhawa Singh Babbar; International Sikh Youth Federation chief Lakhbir Singh, Khalistan Zindabad Force chief Ranjeet Singh and Khalistan Commando Force chief Paramjit Singh.
The others are Bhupinder Singh Bhinda, the Germany-based key member of Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF); Gurmeet Singh Bagga, based in Germany and a key member of KZF; Gurpatwant Singh Pannun , based in US and a key member of the unlawful association, “Sikh for Justice”; Hardeep Singh Nijjar, chief of Khalistan Tiger Force, based in Canada, and Paramjit Singh, the UK based leader of BKI.
The order said, “These individuals are involved in various acts of terrorism from across the border and from foreign soil. They have been relentless in their nefarious efforts of destabilizing the country, by trying to revive militancy in Punjab through their anti national activities and through their support to and involvement in the Khalistan Movement.”
Following an amendment in the UAPA, the government had first designated four as terrorists under the changed provisions of the Act. They included Maulana Masood Azhar, Hafiz Saeed, Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi and Dawood Ibrahim. With Wednesday’s listing, the total number of people declared individual terrorists stands at 13.