Delhi Police’s Special Cell has filed a first information report (FIR) against Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) leader Gurpatwant Pannun. He accused of threatening unrest in the Capital before Republic Day. This follows his release of a video claiming that “sleeper cells” had put up pro-Khalistan posters in Rohini and Dabri areas, officials reported on Friday.
Why Police Book Gurpatwant Pannun?
The FIR includes charges under Sections 196 (promoting enmity), 197 (imputations harmful to national integration), 152 (acts endangering India’s sovereignty, unity, and integrity), and 61 (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).
An officer familiar with the situation said that Pannun, who lives in the US, recently shared the video on social media. However, the police could not find any such posters at the locations mentioned. In the video, he also reportedly used offensive slogans against Modi. HT could not independently confirm the video’s content.
PM Abuse Before Republic Day
Officials mentioned that Gurpatwant Pannun offered a reward of $111,000 for preventing the PM from raising the national flag on January 26 and for placing Khalistan flags on railway tracks in Punjab, among other actions.
“An FIR registered, and we are investigating the matter. We are verifying all claims made in the video and monitoring online platforms closely,” a senior police officer said. This development comes as the Delhi Police has increased security measures for the 77th Republic Day celebrations, responding to various terror-related threats from intelligence agencies. A multi-layered security setup involving Delhi Police and paramilitary forces established across Kartavya Path and the entire New Delhi district.
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