KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
Terrorist outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) on Wednesday threatened to target Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta and raise the Khalistan flag at his Delhi residence in response to the recent renewal of the ban on the organisation. This move has put Delhi Police and the state intelligence unit in Delhi on high alert and prompted a security review, sources said.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun accused Justice Mendiratta of complicity in "judicial oppression" against the Khalistan movement. He claimed that the Justice Mendiratta's ruling was an act of "judicial tyranny."
The terrorist outfit alleged that the Khalistan referendum was a legitimate political expression, not an act of terrorism. Indian justices who issue "oppressive rulings" against Khalistan referendum activists will be held "accountable", it warned.
This development comes days after the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) tribunal upheld the central govt's decision to ban SFJ for five years. The tribunal found evidence of SFJ's involvement in anti-national activities, including radicalising youth and financing terrorism.
The UAPA tribunal of Justice Mendiratta, a sitting judge of Delhi High Court, confirmed the Centre's July 8 notification declaring 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 UAPA. Appearing for the Centre, Additional Solicitor General SD Sanjay and advocate Rajat Nair provided details of an additional 111 FIRs lodged against SFJ and its associates for terror-related activities between 2019 and 2024.
The tribunal saw merit in the evidence provided by the Centre on SFJ's activities, including recruitment and radicalisation of youth using social media, terror financing through smuggling networks for the 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 calls for burning the Tricolour, the Centre provided the tribunal with details of attempts or conspiracies hatched to target critical infrastructure, including power generation and railways. The Centre also provided details of attempts to disrupt events like the G20 summit and activities to challenge India's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The evidence included testimonies of 52 witnesses. The tribunal proceeded with the matter ex parte as SFJ did not contest the evidence.