Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is an Indian-American lawyer and Khalistani militant who is the founder of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). Pannun has often been in the headlines for his involvement in anti-India activities. In June 2023, he reportedly went missing in the US.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun was born in Khankot village, Amritsar, Punjab, India. It was reported that his family migrated to India from Pakistan after the partition of India in 1947. After completing his schooling in Punjab, he joined Punjab University, where he studied law. After completing college, Pannun moved to the United States with his brother. There he began practicing law as an attorney.
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 5′ 7″
Hair Color: Salt and Pepper
Eye colour: dark brown
Family
parents and siblings
His father, Mohinder Singh Pannun (deceased), was an employee of the Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Board. His mother’s name is Amarjeet Kaur (deceased). He has two brothers and sisters. His brother’s name is Mangwant Singh; He went to America with Gurpatwant.
wife and children
His marital status is unknown.
other relatives
His late cousin Diljit Singh Pannun served as High Commissioner to Ghana from 1992 to 1997 and Ambassador to Madagascar from 2005 to 2007.
A picture of Daljeet Singh Pannun
Religion
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun follows Sikhism.
Address
He lives in House No. 350-05 AVE, 59th Floor Empire State Building, New York, USA.
signature/autograph
Signature of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun
Participation in Khalistan movement
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun founded Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) in New York, United States in October 2007 and became its legal advisor. The organization was founded to advocate justice for Sikhs killed during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in India following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
In 2011, the SFJ led by Pannun filed a case in a local US court against Indian National Congress (INC) leader Kamal Nath over his alleged involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in India. However, the court dismissed the suit, stating that the riots did not affect the United States in any way. In September 2013, SFJ filed an amended class action complaint against Sonia Gandhi to defend those involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots; However, it was rejected by the court in June 2014 due to lack of subject matter jurisdiction and failure to state a claim. In February 2014, SFJ filed a petition in a US court against former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. In its lawsuit, the organization claimed that Manmohan Singh, while serving as Finance Minister of India in the 1990s, had significantly contributed to funding organizations responsible for perpetrating atrocities against the Sikh community in India. In November 2015, the SFJ launched a campaign demanding the release of Jagtar Singh Hawara, one of the conspirators in the assassination of Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh.
Pannun giving speech at pro-Khalistan rally in America
Pannun announced in London in 2018 that SFJ would coordinate the referendum 2020 for the separation of Punjab from India. According to SFJ, referendums were to be held in Pakistan, Australia, Canada, the US and the UK. Additionally, he mentioned SFJ’s plan to set up a permanent office in Lahore, which aims to streamline voter registration processes and provide vital information to the Sikh community. He further said that Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale’s photographs would be displayed in banners promoting referendum around Nankana Sahib in Pakistan.
A poster of referendum 2020
The Government of India issued a ban on SFJ on 10 July 2019 and said in its official statement that,
The organization was declared illegal under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.[SFJ] Is in close contact with extremist organizations and activists and is supporting violent forms of insurgency and extremism in Punjab and elsewhere to carve out Khalistan from the territory of India.
In 2019, it was reported that the Pakistani government was working closely with Pannun in organizing workshops and seminars regarding Khalistan for Sikh pilgrims from India visiting Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan. In June 2020, he wrote a letter to Chinese Prime Minister Xi Jinping in which he expressed his solidarity with the Chinese government and criticized the Indian government for the Galwan Valley clashes in Ladakh.
Letter written by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun to Chinese President Xi Jinping
In July 2020, he was declared a terrorist by the Government of India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967. In September 2020, the NIA attached 46 kanals of land owned by him in Khankot, Amritsar. In October 2020, on the death anniversary of Indira Gandhi, SFJ offered cash rewards and mobile phones to students who raised anti-India and anti-Indira Gandhi slogans in Punjab. Pannun is considered the mastermind behind the farmers’ protests that turned violent in New Delhi in 2021. Subsequently, he announced a cash reward of US$2.5 lakh for those who hoisted the Khalistani flag at the Red Fort in New Delhi. 2022 Republic Day. Talking about it in a video, Pannun said,
26th January is about to come and the Indian tricolor is fluttering at the Red Fort. On January 26, remove the tricolor and replace it with the Khalistan flag. Sikh for Justice will give US$2.5 lakh to those who remove the Indian tricolor.
In May 2022, SFJ claimed responsibility for an RPG attack on the Punjab Police intelligence headquarters in Mohali. Based on audio recordings of Pannun acquired from two SFJ members by the Punjab Police in July 2022, it was revealed that the group had attempted to provide shelter to persons responsible for the death of singer Sidhu Moose Wala. Additionally, the group had planned to create disruption during Independence Day celebrations in Delhi and Punjab as well as attack Ambala Cantonment Junction Railway Station and Ambala City Railway Station. The Indian government requested Interpol to issue a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Pannun in October 2022; However, Interpol rejected the request citing lack of evidence. In December 2022, in an audio recording, the SFJ claimed responsibility for firing Russian-made RPG-28s at a police station in Tarn Taran; However, Pannun denied the claims and said that the SFJ was involved in a “peaceful” movement. He also offered financial assistance to those who were detained by the police after the attack. In April 2023, he issued a threat to Assam CM Sarma after Amritpal Singh’s close associates were sent to jail. He also claimed responsibility for the attack on an Indian Army camp in Bathinda, Punjab, which killed four soldiers; However, Punjab Police rejected the claims. The NIA seized his ancestral land in Khankot village and residential property in Sector – 15, Chandigarh in September 2023.
NIA and Punjab Police officials standing near the notice put up on Pannun’s land in Khankot.
Notice board put up by NIA outside Pannun’s house in Chandigarh
mysterious disappearance
On 20 June 2023, multiple sources claimed that Gurpatwant Singh Pannun had been missing for the past 48 hours. It was also claimed that Pannun had gone into hiding due to fear of being targeted after the killing of Canada-based Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Facts/General Knowledge
- In August 2022, Congress leader Gursimram Singh Mand hoisted the Indian flag at the residence of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in Chandigarh as part of the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign.
Indian National Congress (INC) members holding the Indian flag outside the house of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in Chandigarh.
- Gurpatwant Singh Pannun had close links with slain Kahlistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
A photograph of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun with KTF chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar
- In September 2023, an FIR was filed against Pannun by Gujarat Police for threatening to disrupt the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup. These threats were reportedly delivered to individuals across the country through pre-recorded messages. In the voice note, Pannun reportedly said,
This will not be the beginning of World Cup cricket but it will be the beginning of World Terror Cup. We are going to avenge the murder of Martyr Nizar.”
During the India vs Australia World Cup final on 19 November 2023, a boy named Wayne Johnson broke security and entered the pitch of Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. He was wearing a pro-Palestine T-shirt that read ‘Stop bombing Palestine.’ Security officials immediately caught hold of him, and he was later arrested by the police and taken to Chandkheda police station. Following his arrest, Pannun-led banned pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) announced a reward of US$10,000 for disrupting the match. However, several international agencies speculated that this could be a ploy by the SFJ. Johnson, on the other hand, said in an interview that his main aim was to hug Virat Kohli and express his support for Palestine.
Wayne Johnson tries to hug Virat Kohli after he comes on the field during the 2023 ICC Men’s World Cup final
- In 2023, the US Justice Department accused an Indian named Nikhil Gupta of plotting the murder of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York. Nikhil was arrested by Czech authorities on June 30, 2023, under the US-Czech extradition agreement. The indictment released by the US Department of Justice revealed that Nikhil had worked closely with an Indian agent known as CC-1, who urged him to arrange for Pannun’s murder in exchange for assistance in dismissing a criminal case in India . The document further mentions that Nikhil had once told the alleged ‘hitman’, whom he had contacted to kill Pannun, that Hardeep Singh Nijjar was also a target; The hitman later turns out to be an undercover American law enforcement officer.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn