Chandigarh, September 23
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday confiscated the immovable properties of Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, the founder of the proscribed group Sikh For Justice (SFJ), in Chandigarh and Amritsar.
“Property confiscation” notices were put up outside the residence of pro-Khalistan leader Pannu in Chandigarh and near a piece of agricultural land in Punjab’s Amritsar, official sources said.
The action was taken under the relevant Section of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
NIA sleuths visited Pannun’s house in Chandigarh in the morning to carry out confiscation proceedings and stayed there for nearly three hours.
The confiscation notice reads, “1/4th share of house no 2033, owner by Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, Proclaimed Offender in NIA case, stands confiscated to the State under Section 33(5) of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967, by the orders of NIA Special court, Mohali.”
The notice put up near the farmland in Amritsar read: “5/16th share (46-0) in the land bearing khewat no. 93, khasra no. 23//22/1/2- 24//2/2/2- 2/3 3/3 4/2 5/2 6/2 24/7-8-9/1 9/2/1 12/1/2 12/2 13-14-15/1 16/2 17-18-19/1- 19/2/1 22/2 23-24-25/1 24//2/2-3-4-5-/1- 6/3-6/4 7-8/62/3/16. Total area 147-4 situated at village Khankot, Amritsar, owned by Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, a proclaimed offender in NIA case-19/2020/NIA/DLI, stands confiscated to the state under under section 33(5) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 by the orders of the NIA special court, SAS Nagar, Mohali, Punjab. This is for information of general public.”
The NIA action came amid an escalating diplomatic row between India and Canada over the issue of the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar by unidentified assailants in British Columbia in June.
