Home
LATEST on SATP
        Search

SEARCH ON SATP

 

SEARCH TERRORISM UPDATE

KEYWORD
START DATE
END DATE
  • South Asia
    • Assessments
    • Backgrounder
    • Bibliography
    • Conflict Maps
    • Data Sheets
    • Documents
    • Terrorist Groups
    • Timelines
  •  Afghanistan
    • Assessments
    • Backgrounder
    • Bibliography
    • Conflict Maps
    • Data Sheet
    • Documents
    • Terrorist Groups
    • Timelines
    • Capital Region
      • Kabul
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
    • East Afghanistan
      • Kapisa
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Kunar
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Laghman
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Nangarhar
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Nuristan
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Panjsher
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Parwan
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
    • North Afghanistan
      • Badakhshan
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Baghlan
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Balkh
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Faryab
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Jowzjan
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Kunduz
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Samangan
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Sar-e-Pul
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Takhar
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
    • South Afghanistan
      • Daykundi
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Kandahar
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Uruzgan
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Zabul
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
    • Southwest Afghanistan
      • Helmand
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Nimroz
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
    • Southeast Afghanistan
      • Bamyan
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Ghazni
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Khost
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Logar
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Paktika
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Paktiya
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Wardak
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
    • West Afghanistan
      • Badghis
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Farah
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Ghor
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Herat
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
  •  Bangladesh
    • Assessments
    • Backgrounder
    • Bibliography
    • Conflict Maps
    • Data Sheets
    • Documents
    • Terrorist Groups
    • Timelines
    • Islamist Terrorism
      • Data Sheets
      • Documents
      • Terrorist Groups
      • Timelines
    • Left-wing Extremism
      • Data Sheets
      • Documents
      • Terrorist Groups
      • Timelines
  •  Bhutan
    • Assessments
    • Backgrounder
    • Bibliography
    • Conflict Maps
    • Data Sheets
    • Documents
    • Terrorist Groups
    • Timelines
    • Central
      • Data Sheets
      • Documents
      • Terrorist Groups
      • Timelines
    • Eastern
      • Data Sheets
      • Documents
      • Terrorist Groups
      • Timelines
    • Southern
      • Data Sheets
      • Documents
      • Terrorist Groups
      • Timelines
    • Western
      • Data Sheets
      • Documents
      • Terrorist Groups
      • Timelines
  •  India
    • Assessments
    • Backgrounder
    • Bibliography
    • Conflict Maps
    • Data Sheets
    • Documents
    • Terrorist Groups
    • Timelines
    • Jammu & Kashmir
      • Assessments
      • Backgrounder
      • Bibliography
      • Conflict Maps
      • Data Sheets
      • Documents
      • Terrorist Groups
      • Timelines
    • Maoist Insurgency
      • Assessments
      • Backgrounder
      • Bibliography
      • Conflict Maps
      • Data Sheets
      • Documents
      • Terrorist Groups
      • Timelines
      • Andhra Pradesh
        • Assessments
        • Conflict Maps
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Bihar
        • Assessments
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Chhattisgarh
        • Assessments
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Goa
        • Assessments
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Gujarat
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Haryana
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Jharkhand
        • Assessments
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Karnataka
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Kerala
        • Assessments
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Madhya Pradesh
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Maharashtra
        • Assessments
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Odisha
        • Assessments
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Rajasthan
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Tamil Nadu
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Telangana
        • Assessments
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Uttar Pradesh
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Uttarakhand
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • West Bengal
        • Assessments
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
    • Insurgency North East
      • Assessments
      • Data Sheets
      • Documents
      • Terrorist Groups
      • Timelines
      • Arunachal Pradesh
        • Assessments
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Assam
        • Assessments
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Manipur
        • Assessments
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Meghalaya
        • Assessments
        • Backgrounder
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Mizoram
        • Assessments
        • Backgrounder
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Nagaland
        • Assessments
        • Backgrounder
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Tripura
        • Assessments
        • Backgrounder
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
    • Punjab
      • Assessments
      • Backgrounder
      • Data Sheets
      • Documents
      • Terrorist Groups
      • Timelines
    • ISLAMIST/OTHER CONFLICTS
      • Assessments
      • Data Sheets
      • Documents
      • Terrorist Groups
      • Timelines
      • Andhra Pradesh
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Bihar
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Chandigarh (UT)
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Chhattisgarh
        • Assessments
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Delhi
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Goa
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Gujarat
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Haryana
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Himachal Pradesh
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Jharkhand
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Karnataka
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Kerala
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Madhya Pradesh
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Maharashtra
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Odisha
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Pondicherry
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Rajasthan
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Sikkim
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Tamil Nadu
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Telangana
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Uttar Pradesh
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Uttarakhand
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • West Bengal
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
  •  Maldives
    • Assessments
    • Data Sheets
    • Documents
    • Terrorist Groups
    • Timelines
    • Proviencs
      • Dhekunu (South)
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Mathi Dhekunu (Upper South)
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Mathi Uthuru (Upper North)
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Medhu (Central)
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Medhu Dhekunu (South Central)
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Medhu Uthuru (North Central)
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Uthuru (North)
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
  •  Nepal
    • Assessments
    • Bibliography
    • Data Sheets
    • Documents
    • Terrorist Groups
    • Timelines
    • Provinces
      • Province No. 1
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Province No. 2
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Province No. 3
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Province No. 4
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Province No. 5
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Province No. 6
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Province No. 7
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
  •  Pakistan
    • Assessments
    • Backgrounder
    • Bibliography
    • Conflict Maps
    • Data Sheets
    • Documents
    • Terrorist Groups
    • Timelines
    • Balochistan
      • Assessments
      • Data Sheets
      • Documents
      • Terrorist Groups
      • Timelines
    • FATA
      • Assessments
      • Data Sheets
      • Documents
      • Terrorist Groups
      • Timelines
    • Islamabad Capital Territory
      • Data Sheets
      • Documents
      • Terrorist Groups
      • Timelines
    • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
      • Assessments
      • Data Sheets
      • Documents
      • Terrorist Groups
      • Timelines
    • Pakistan Occupied kashmir
      • Azad Kashmir
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Gilgit-Baltistan
        • Assessments
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
    • Punjab
      • Assessments
      • Data Sheets
      • Documents
      • Terrorist Groups
      • Timelines
    • Sindh
      • Assessments
      • Data Sheets
      • Documents
      • Terrorist Groups
      • Timelines
  •  Sri Lanka
    • Assessments
    • Bibliography
    • Data Sheets
    • Documents
    • Terrorist Groups
    • Timelines
    • Provinces
      • Central Province
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Eastern Province
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • North Central Province
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • North Western Province
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Northern Province
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Sabaragamua Province
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Southern Province
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Uva Province
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
      • Western Province
        • Data Sheets
        • Documents
        • Terrorist Groups
        • Timelines
  •  Arunachal Pradesh
    • Assessments
    • Backgrounder
    • Conflict Maps
    • Data Sheets
    • Documents
    • Terrorist Groups
    • Timelines
  •  Assam
    • Assessments
    • Backgrounder
    • Conflict Maps
    • Data Sheets
    • Documents
    • Terrorist Groups
    • Timelines
  •  Jammu & Kashmir
    • Assessments
    • Backgrounder
    • Conflict Maps
    • Data Sheets
    • Documents
    • Terrorist Groups
    • Timelines
  •  Manipur
    • Assessments
    • Backgrounder
    • Conflict Maps
    • Data Sheets
    • Documents
    • Terrorist Groups
    • Timelines
  •  Meghalaya
    • Assessments
    • Backgrounder
    • Conflict Maps
    • Data Sheets
    • Documents
    • Terrorist Groups
    • Timelines
  •  Mizoram
    • Assessments
    • Backgrounder
    • Conflict Maps
    • Data Sheets
    • Documents
    • Terrorist Groups
    • Timelines
  •  Nagaland
    • Assessments
    • Backgrounder
    • Conflict Maps
    • Data Sheets
    • Documents
    • Terrorist Groups
    • Timelines
  •  Punjab
    • Assessments
    • Backgrounder
    • Conflict Maps
    • Data Sheets
    • Documents
    • Terrorist Groups
    • Timelines
  •  Tripura
    • Assessments
    • Backgrounder
    • Conflict Maps
    • Data Sheets
    • Documents
    • Terrorist Groups
    • Timelines
  •  Maoist Insurgency
    • Assessments
    • Conflict Maps
    • Data Sheets
    • Documents
    • Terrorist Groups
    • Timelines
    • Andhra Pradesh
      • Assessments
      • Conflict Maps
      • Data Sheets
      • Terrorist Groups
      • Timelines
    • Bihar
      • Assessments
      • Conflict Maps
      • Data Sheets
      • Terrorist Groups
      • Timelines
    • Chhattisgarh
      • Assessments
      • Conflict Maps
      • Data Sheets
      • Terrorist Groups
      • Timelines
    • Goa
      • Timelines
    • Gujarat
      • Timelines
    • Haryana
      • Timelines
    • Jharkhand
      • Assessments
      • Conflict Maps
      • Data Sheets
      • Terrorist Groups
      • Timelines
    • Karnataka
      • Timelines
    • Kerala
      • Assessments
      • Conflict Maps
      • Data Sheets
      • Terrorist Groups
      • Timelines
    • Madhya Pradesh
      • Assessments
      • Conflict Maps
      • Data Sheets
      • Terrorist Groups
      • Timelines
    • Maharashtra
      • Assessments
      • Conflict Maps
      • Data Sheets
      • Terrorist Groups
      • Timelines
    • Odisha
      • Assessments
      • Conflict Maps
      • Data Sheets
      • Terrorist Groups
      • Timelines
    • Rajasthan
      • Timelines
    • Tamil Nadu
      • Timelines
    • Telangana
      • Assessments
      • Conflict Maps
      • Data Sheets
      • Terrorist Groups
      • Timelines
    • Uttar Pradesh
      • Timelines
    • Uttarakhand
      • Timelines
    • West Bengal
      • Assessments
      • Conflict Maps
      • Data Sheets
      • Terrorist Groups
      • Timelines
  • ASSESSMENTS
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
  • BACKGROUNDER
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
  • BIBLIOGRAPHY
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
  • CONFLICT MAPS
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
  • DATA SHEETS
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
  • DOCUMENTS
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
  • TERRORIST GROUPS
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
  • TIMELINES
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
  • BOOKS
    • The Knights of Falsehood
    • The Global Threat of Terror
    • Book Store
  • TERRORISM UPDATE
  • VIDEOS
  • FREEDOM FROM FEAR
  • WAR WITHIN BORDERS
  • SECOND SIGHT
  • ICM IN MEDIA
  • EXTERNAL RESOURCES
  • RISK ALERT
  • ISLAMIST EXTREMISM & TERRORISM IN SOUTH ASIA
  • SEMINARS/WORKSHOPS/PROJECTS/REPORTS

South Asia Terrorism Portal

SOUTH ASIA INTELLIGENCE REVIEW
[SAIR]

Weekly Assessments & Briefings
Volume 19, No.26, December 21, 2020
 
Data and assessments from SAIR can be freely published in any form with credit to the South Asia Intelligence Review of the South Asia Terrorism Portal.

ASSESSMENT

  • INDIA: Punjab: SFJ: Struggling for Relevance - Indrajit Sharma
  • INDIA: Assam: BTC/BTR Transition - Giriraj Bhattacharjee


INDIA

 

    Print

Punjab: SFJ: Struggling for Relevance
Indrajit Sharma
Research
Associate, Institute for Conflict Management

 

On December 18, 2020, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), filed a chargesheet against 10 accused, including designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of the banned secessionist organization – Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) – before the NIA Special Court at Mohali in the Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar District of Punjab. Originally registered by Punjab Police at Sultanwind Police Station, Amritsar (City) on October 19, 2018, the case was subsequently re-registered by the NIA (RC-19/2020/NIA/DLI) on April 5, 2020. The case relates to a series of acts of violence including acts of arson in Punjab in 2017-18, carrying out propaganda activities, both online and on ground campaigns in support of SFJ and the purported ‘Referendum 2020’. These acts were committed by a gang of radicalised Sikh youth under the direction and financial assistance from SFJ handlers located abroad, as part of an organized conspiracy by the accused for the launch of a concerted secessionist campaign for the creation of ‘Khalistan’.

The 10 accused include Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, r/o New York, US; Pargat Singh, Sukhraj Singh aka Raju, Bikramjit Singh aka Vicky, Manjeet Singh aka Manjit Singh aka Manga, Jatinder Singh aka Goldi, Gurwinder Singh aka Gurpreet Singh aka Gopi, Harpreet Singh aka Happy, Kuldeep Singh aka Kuldip Singh aka Keepaand and Harmeet Singh aka Raju. Other than Pannun, who is a resident of New York, and Harmeet Singh, who is a resident of Delhi, the remaining accused are all residents of Punjab. In a press release dated December 18, 2020, the NIA stated,

…social media accounts are being used to radicalise impressionable youth & breed enmity on the grounds of region and religion… Gurpatwant Singh Pannun (leader of SFJ) radicalised and recruited the other accused persons into SFJ… accused persons had received funding from their handlers located abroad through various MTSS (Money Transfer Service Scheme) platforms to further the conspiracy.

Earlier, on December 9, 2020, the NIA had filed a chargesheet against 16 foreign-based 'Khalistanis', members of SFJ, before an NIA special court in New Delhi. The chargesheet related to a case (RC-02/2019/NIA/DLI) registered on January 15, 2019, pertaining to an alleged organised conspiracy by the accused to launch a concerted secessionist campaign under the banner of 'Referendum 2020' for the creation of so called 'Khalistan' by "liberating Punjab from Indian occupation."

The 16 chargesheeted individuals in this case include Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Avtar Singh Pannun (New York, US), Gurpreet Singh Baagi (United Kingdom, UK), Harpreet Singh aka Rana Singh (New York, US), Paramjit Singh aka Pamma (UK), Sarabjit Singh Bannur (UK), Amardeep Singh Purewal (California, US), J. S. Dhaliwal (Canada), Kulwant Singh Mothada (UK) Dupinderjit Singh (UK), Hardeep Singh Nijjar (Canada), Kulwant Singh aka Kanta (UK), Harjaap Singh aka Japhi Singh (California, US), Sarabjit Singh aka Sabi Singh (California, US), Jatinder Singh Grewal (Canada) and S. Himmat Singh (New York, US). The NIA stated,

...Sikhs for Justice… in the garb of 'Human Rights advocacy group' with its offices in various foreign countries like the US, Canada, the UK, Australia etc, is a frontal organization of Khalistan terrorist outfits operating from foreign soils including Pakistan… a number of websites have been launched [by the SFJ], which are being used to propagate sedition as well as enmity on the grounds of region and religion, to radicalise impressionable youth, to cause disturbance to peace and harmony and to raise funds for terrorist activities.

Significantly, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has been chargesheeted in both this case (RC-02/2019/NIA/DLI) as well as in the April 2020 case (RC-19/2020/NIA/DLI).

It is useful to recall that, since July 2020, SFJ has intensified efforts to propagate its 'Referendum 2020' campaign on social media. However, the Government of India (GoI) has been prompt in blocking the websites foiling SFJ's attempts. For instance,

  • On July 4, 2020, the GoI blocked a Russian portal, www.punjabfree.ru, shortly after going online. SFJ launched its online voter registration for 'Referendum 2020' for people in Punjab through this portal. SFJ appealed to the people in Punjab aged 18 or above, from any religion, as well as the Sikhs living anywhere else in India, to register their votes for participation in the non-governmental 'Punjab Independence Referendum'.
  • On July 5, 2020, the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology reportedly took down 40 websites run and operated by the SFJ, on a recommendation from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA). These websites were being used to propagate anti-India sentiments across the world and for efforts to recruit young Sikhs to join militant ranks.
  • On July 19, 2020, GoI blocked a Canadian portal - 'DelhiBanayGaKhalistan.ca' launched by SFJ to register 'Referendum 2020' votes in Delhi.

SFJ’s Facebook page has already been banned in India after the inclusion of the group as an “unlawful association” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) by UMHA.

On July 1, 2020, UMHA declared SFJ’s founder and legal adviser – Gurpatwant Singh Pannun – as a terrorist under the UAPA for his involvement in acts of terror and pushing the ‘Khalistan’ movement.

Despite this, on September 7, 2020, SFJ announced that its pro-Khalistan ‘Referendum 2020’ would take place in the month of November 2020. Consequently, an alert was issued by Indian security agencies to State Police Forces and counterpart wings therein, especially in Punjab, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Delhi, to keep a close watch on social media, which were the likely tool SFJ would use to drive its ‘Referendum 2020’ campaign from foreign soil.

Further tightening the grip over social media, on November 2, 2020, the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued orders to block 12 websites containing Khalistani content. The websites were linked with and being directly operated by SFJ. The blocked websites included SFJ4Farmers, pbteam, seva413, pb4u, sadapind, among others, with "org" extensions.

Reacting to the strict monitoring and regulation of social media for SFJ’s propaganda activities, the organization has resorted to new ways to push its secessionist agenda.

On September 16, 2020, SFJ announced that it would undertake a door-to-door drive for voter registration in Punjab for its ‘Referendum 2020’. SFJ adopted the tactic as its online ‘Referendum 2020’ voter campaign on Canadian and Russian portals failed to secure traction. The secessionist organization announced that it would ‘cover’ 12,000 villages of Punjab in 30 days, starting from September 21 and, to this end, would recruit 1,000 ‘qualified referendum ambassadors’ who would register voters in their respective assigned geographical areas for ‘Referendum 2020’. SFJ promised to pay a monthly stipend of INR 7,500 each to these ‘referendum ambassadors’ for their services. There was, however, no evidence of implementation on the ground, and the plan failed entirely.

Further, according to NIA, as reported on December 10, 2020, SFJ has been attempting to undermine the security of the Indian State by instigating Sikh personnel in the Indian army to rise in mutiny against India.

Meanwhile, backed by the Pakistan’s spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), SFJ is trying to exploit the various political crises the Indian Government currently faces.

On November 29, 2020, amid the escalating protests by farmers against the three farm legislations passed in the Parliament in September 2020 [Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act], SFJ offered support of USD 1 million to the protestors. SFJ’s Chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannu released a video, promising aid to the protestors who were injured or whose tractors were damaged during the protests. There is no evidence of any actual disbursement of funds.

Moreover, in a letter dated December 5, 2020, addressed to the External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Union Minister of State for External Affairs Vellamvelly Muraleedharan, SFJ conveyed its intention to block Indian Missions in USA, Canada, UK and Europe, to ‘stand in solidarity’ with the protesting farmers of Punjab.

On September 9, 2020, the Macdonald Laurier Institute, a think tank based in Ottawa (Canada), released a report Khalistan: A Project of Pakistan, which stated that 'Khalistan' was a project sponsored by Pakistan, and was detrimental to the national security not only of India but of Canada as well. Terry Milewski, one of Canada's prominent journalists, who authored the report, revealed that Pakistan had launched the 'Khalistan' insurgency using Sikhs in Indian Punjab to avenge its own defeat in the Indo-Pak 1971 war. The report also claimed that western democracies with large Sikh communities, such as Canada, the UK and the US were aware of this absurdity and were, consequently, sceptical about the 'Khalistan Referendum.' 

Indeed, while Canada conveyed that it "respects the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of India", the UK Government, following Canada's lead, dismissed SFJ's campaign observing,

Punjab is part of India. This is a matter for the government and people of India, not foreign countries or overseas organisations. While we support the right of anyone to voice their opinion, the UK government is not involved in any way with this unofficial and non-binding referendum. We consider the Indian Punjab to be a part of India.

Nevertheless, despite the recurrent failure of its strategies, SFJ announced, on November 25, 2020, that it would organise a "global referendum" from the UK on August 15, 2021. The group's 'General Counsel' Gurpatwant Singh Pannun circulated this information on some internet platforms.

The security and intelligence apparatus has been successful in neutralizing SFJ’s tactics and preventing its malicious ‘Referendum 2020’ campaign. Nevertheless, any complacency at this stage would be risky as the secessionist agenda is constantly being kept alive by radicalized elements in the Sikh Diaspora, as well as by the Pakistani intelligence establishment. There is also a need for GoI to work more effectively with countries such as Canada, UK, and USA, to deal with the activities of the radicalized elements among the Sikh Diaspora in these countries.

 

 

INDIA

 

    Print

Assam: BTC/BTR Transition
Giriraj Bhattacharjee
Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management

On December 15, 2020, former All Bodo Student’s Union President, Promod Bodo, of the United Peoples’ Party Liberal (UPPL), took oath as the new the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of Bodoland Territorial Council/Bodoland Territorial Region (BTC/BTR). Former National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) militant leader, Gobinda Chandra Basumatary, also of the UPPL, was sworn in as deputy CEM.

However, on December 18, a bench of the Gauhati High Court, in response to a writ petition filed by former CEM Hagrama Mohilary has directed the BTC to maintain status quo on its administrative works. The order, passed by the single-judge bench of Justice Suman Shyam, comes at a time when the newly-elected council members are yet to begin discharging duties. The next hearing on the case has been fixed for December 22. The former CEM in his petition has alleged that the current CEM Promod Bodo and other elected members have been appointed in violation of the provisions of the Bodoland Territorial Council (Election) Rules, 2004 and the provisions of the Assam Autonomous District (Constitution of District Councils) Rules, 1951.

Earlier, on December 13, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) decided post-poll to team up with the Promod Bodo-led United Peoples’ Party Liberal (UPPL) and the Naba Sarania (former United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militant turned Kokrajhar Member of Parliament)-led Gana Suraksha Party (GSP) to forge a coalition to form the ‘Council.

Significantly, in the two-phase elections (December 7 and 10) for 40 BTC seats, the Bodo Peoples’ Front (BPF) emerged as the single largest party with 17 seats, followed by the UPPL, 12 seats; the BJP, 9 seats; and the GSP and Indian National Congress, one seat each.

The BTC comprises of 40 elected members. Besides the elected members, another six members (compulsorily including two women) are nominated by the Governor of Assam from un-represented community. The members nominated are Madhav Chandra Chetry (Gorkha), Champawati Deka (Sarania Kachari), Wilson Hasda (Santhal), Pradip Kumar Bhuyan (Keot), Hemanta Kumar Rabha (Rabha) and Arpana Medhi (general).

Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD), which extends over an area of 8,970 square kilometers in the four Districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri, came into existence on October 31, 2003. Subsequently, the BTC was formed on December 7, 2003. The term of the council is five years. So far, four elections (including the latest one) have been held.

Notably, the 2020 BTC/BTR elections were peacefully conducted with not even a single fatal incident reported between the date of notification (March 11) and polling dates (December 7 and 10), as per the partial data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP). Two minor incidents, however, were reported on December 10 (the last day of elections): miscreants attacked a vehicle carrying ballot boxes at Gossaigaon in Kokrajhar District, a presiding officer was assaulted in Chirang District during a clash between supporters of BPF and UPPL over allegation of unfairly influencing voters. On both occasions, Police had to open fire to control the situation.

The 2020 BTC elections were notified on March 11, 2020. As per the notification, the election was supposed to be held on April 4, 2020. However, on March 20, 2020, the Assam State Election Commission deferred all electoral procedures, including “campaigning, polling and re-polling (if any)” indefinitely due to COVID-19 pandemic. The Election Commission on November 17 announced a two-phase election schedule on December 7 and December 10, 2020.

2015 BTC elections were also peaceful. No fatal incident was reported between the date of notification (March 18) and polling date (April 8). No violence was reported on the polling day as well.

Also, the newly constituted BTC has brought an end to the long reign of BPF led by former Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) leader Hagrama Mohilary. The BPF was in power since the inception of the BTC.

The change of the current occupants is expected to help in smooth transition of BTC to BTR as conceptualised in the January 27, 2020, Bodo Accord. The new accord promises greater autonomy and inclusion of additional Bodo dominated areas under the proposed BTR.

Remarkably, Kwrwmdao Wary, the assistant general secretary of the ABSU, one of the signatories of the January 27, 2020, Bodo Accord, in an interview given to Scroll on December 6, 2020, refereeing to the implementation of the accord had asserted, “And for that [implementing the accord], the government must change” arguing “It was only fair… that the major signatories [of the new accord] should form the new government.”

On the other hand, the incumbent CEM Hagrama Mohilary was dismissive of the accord even though he was one of the signatories. He had even dismissed the Memorandum of Understanding as ‘zero’ possibly sensing the growth of alternate poles diminishing his role in the region.

Notably, earlier Bodo accords of 1993 and 2003 had failed primarily because there were different power centres in the BTC and in the State Government, as well as ABSU and NDFB were outside the purview, and thus there were clashes of interest. It led to increased factionalism within Bodo groups. The Accords had not been able to end violence in the region, though violence had reduced relatively. According to SATP, the creation of BTAD did not eradicate the violence in the troubled area. A total of 607 fatalities (277 civilians, 21 Security Force personnel and 303 militants) have been recorded in the BTAD region since its creation.

In such scenario, alternate power centres in BTC/BTR and State Government could have led to increase friction and potentially derailing the accord.

However, there are still worries. The fissure between the Bodos and the non-Bodos is yet to be bridged. Political parties have repeatedly tried to play these sentiments to garner votes. In this election too, sentiments such as 'Bodo Pride' and equal land rights for the non-Bodos were cynically used. Keen observer of State Politics fear that the entry of BJP into these elections could further this divide. On December 2, 2020, Gauhati University Professor Monirul Hussain said,

All these years, mainstream parties like Congress, BJP stayed away from mingling in the affairs of the Bodoland. It was mostly controlled by the Bodo leaders. But this time around, they are turning the tables, especially BJP, which is trying to mainstream the Bodo politics. The resultant effect will be a wedge between Bodos and non Bodos in the area.

Such distrust could potentially hamper the boundary determination exercise. On September 28, 2020, State Government notified the five-member Commission to look into the issue of the alteration of the boundary of the BTAD Districts.

Another issue is the backtracking of NDFB from several provisions of the 2020 accord. On October 6, 2020, all four NDFB factions - Dhiren Bodo, Gobinda Basumatary, Ranjan Daimary and B. Saoraigwra - demanded omission of the phrase 'comprehensive and final' from the agreement and 'exclusion of villages from BTAD', general amnesty for all members of NDFB without the distinction of heinous and non-heinous crime category and inclusion of NDFB members in the constituted Commission for inclusion/ exclusion of villages within BTR.

Additionally, NDFB factions Dhiren Bodo, Ranjan Daimary and B. Saoraigwra, all three on March 9; and Gobinda Basumatary faction, on March 10, were disbanded as per the 2020 Accord, the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), fighting for a separate Kamtapur State for Koch Rajbongshis, is still actively group operating in the region. According to a May 2020 report, post the signing of the Accord, the KLO was trying to gain prominence in lower Assam region that includes BTC.

The peaceful conduct of BTC elections is a remarkable achievement by the Government along with the signing of the third Bodo Accord. However, to fully realise the peace dividend the tricky issues of inclusion and exclusion of tribal and non-tribal villages, rehabilitation of NDFB cadres, and amnesty for militants need to be dealt thoughtfully by the Government. Any lackadaisical approach could lead to violent ethnic strife among the inhabitants and also revival of Bodoland State movement by unhappy Bodo groups. 

NEWS BRIEFS
 

Weekly Fatalities: Major Conflicts in South Asia 
December 14-20, 2020

 

Civilians

Security Force Personnel

Terrorists/Insurgents

NS

Total

AFGHANISTAN

23
26
179
9
237

INDIA

 

Jammu and Kashmir

0
1
1
0
2

INDIA (Left-Wing Extremism)

 

Andhra Pradesh

1
0
0
0
1

Chhattisgarh

0
1
1
0
2

Jharkhand

0
0
2
0
2

Odisha

1
0
0
0
1

INDIA (Total)

2
2
4
0
8

PAKISTAN

 

Balochistan

0
1
0
0
1

PAKISTAN (Total)

0
1
0
0
1
Provisional data compiled from English language media sources.


AFGHANISTAN

'Taliban use violence as leverage', says NATO commander General Scott Miller: The United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Scott Miller, said that the Taliban are using violence as a leverage and that they must reduce the violence because they're the "instigators" of it. "Clearly, the Taliban use violence as leverage. It's a tool they've used for a long time and it's one they're loathe to abandon. We press them pretty hard on violence. You know, we have been pressing them since 1 March 2020," Miller said. The Khaama Press, December 19, 2020.

Tough road ahead to peace in Afghanistan, says Chief Negotiator for Afghan Government Masoom Stanekzai: Chief negotiator Masoom Stanekzai on December 17 said that the road forward in the peace process might be challenging and that the peace efforts might open a new wave of violence in the country will if people's demands are not addressed in the process. Tolo News, December 19, 2020.

114 civilians killed in the past three months in eastern Afghanistan, says AIHRC: The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) on December 17 said that at least 114 Afghan civilians were killed and 300 injured over the past three months in eastern part of Afghanistan. Tolo News, December 18, 2020.

Taliban's Spokesperson says Taliban opposes holding next round of talks in Afghanistan and insists that next round will take place at Doha: The Taliban has opposed President Ashraf Ghani's call to hold the next round of the peace negotiations in Afghanistan, saying the request signals fear on the republic's side. Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem said, "Many areas in the country are in our control and any decision that we get belongs to us. These locations are those that were suggested to them by the United Nations a while ago in which they mentioned that the members of (the Taliban) remain on a blacklist and pressure is brought on (the Taliban). All these statements are in contradiction. Tolo News, December 17, 2020.

BANGLADESH

Government would uphold spirit of constitution and would not disregard any religion, says Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan: Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on December 15 said that the Government would uphold the spirit of the constitution and would not disregard any religion. The Minister said "We will not disregard any religion. We follow religious cultures and will continue to do so. The discussion is under way on whether the sculptures will remain as they are, or not. We have convinced them that those sculptures are not idols. We want to emulate Bangabandhu as they [Islamist leaders] explained the religious context." New Age, December 17, 2020.

Government would not tolerate chaos in name of religion, says Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina: Issuing a strong warning against religious fanatics, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on December 15 said the Government would not tolerate chaos in name of religion. "This Bangladesh is the Bangladesh of Lalon Shah, Rabindranath, Kazi Nazrul, Jibanananda; this Bangladesh is the Bangladesh of Shahjalal, Shah Poran, Shah Mokdum, Khanjahan Ali; this Bangladesh is the Bangladesh of Sheikh Mujib and 16.5 crore Bangalees - this country is for all. We won't allow anyone to create any division and anarchy in the name of religion," she said.  The Daily Star, December 16, 2020.

INDIA

'Khalistan' is Pakistan project, threat to national security, says Canadian report: According to a report published by Macdonald Laurier Institute, a reputed think tank based in Ottawa, Canada, 'Khalistan' project is sponsored by Pakistan, and it is detrimental to the national security of not only India but Canada as well. Terry Milewski, one of Canada's veteran journalists, who authored the report reveals how Pakistan launched the 'Khalistan' insurgency using Indian Sikhs in Indian Punjab to avenge its own defeat in the Indo-Pak 1971 war. The Tribune, December 19, 2020.

Zakir Naik funding new terror alliance to launch attacks in India, according to R&AW: Wanted Islamic preacher Zakir Naik is suspectedly funding a new terror alliance to launch attacks in India around January 26, 2021 says an intel report from Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), Times Now reports on December 14. The report further claims that members of Popular Front of India (PFI) are conspiring with some Rohingyas to carry out the attacks in multiple Indian cities. Times Now News, December 15, 2020.

NEPAL

President dissolves House of Representatives: President Bidya Devi Bhandari on December 20 endorsed the KP Sharma Oli Government's recommendation for the dissolution of the House of Representatives. The Office of the President said in a notice that President Bidya Devi Bhandari has approved the recommendation, pursuant to Article 76 (1) and (7) and Article 85 of the constitution, of the Council of Ministers to dissolve the House of Representatives. The President has also approved the Cabinet's recommendation for holding general elections on April 30 and May 10, 2021. Oli's move of dissolving House comes on the heels of a deepening crisis in his Nepali Communist Party (NCP) where he has slid into the minority with the opponent faction led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Madhav Nepal and Jhala Nath Khanal demanding his resignation for failing on the governance front and to abide by party decisions. The Kathmandu Post, December 21, 2020.

PAKISTAN

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan meets Taliban leadership in Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan met with the Taliban delegation led by their deputy leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. PM Imran Khan reiterated that there was no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan, adding that the Intra-Afghan negotiations provide a historic opportunity to the Afghan leaders for achieving durable peace and stability through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process. Tolo News, December 19, 2020.

SRI LANKA

Unaware NTJ was a violent organisation, says Former Minister of Muslim Affairs M.H.A. Haleem: Former Minister of Muslim Affairs M.H.A. Haleem testifying before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) probing Easter Sunday on December 14 said he was unaware National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) was a violent organisation. Haleem said that he was unaware of Aliyar Junction clash in Kattankudy in 2017 and about Zahran Hashim before Easter Sunday attacks. He added that NTJ followers do not know how to interact with people of their own, and they were always trying to create conflicts. Daily Mirror, December 16, 2020.

For assessments on other South Asian countries and for daily news updates on terrorism visit
South Asia Terrorism Portal 

The South Asia Intelligence Review (SAIR) is a weekly service that brings you regular data, assessments and news briefs on terrorism, insurgencies and sub-conventional warfare, on counter-terrorism responses and policies, as well as on related economic, political, and social issues, in the South Asian region.

SAIR is a project of the Institute for Conflict Management and the South Asia Terrorism Portal

 
South Asia Intelligence Review [SAIR]

Publisher
Dr. Ajai Sahni

Editor
Dr. Ajai Sahni


A Project of the
Institute For Conflict Management
IIIrd Floor, Apsara Arcade, B-1/8, Pusa Road New Delhi, INDIA
Telefax: 91-11-2575 0374, 470 50983
Email: icm@satp.org            Website: www.satp.org

To receive FREE advance copies of SAIR by email Subscribe.
Recommend South Asia Intelligence Review (SAIR) To A Friend

 

SAIR
  • Volume 19, No. 52
  • Volume 19, No. 51
  • Volume 19, No. 50
  • Volume 19, No. 49
  • Volume 19, No. 48
  • Volume 19, No. 47
  • Volume 19, No. 46
  • Volume 19, No. 45
  • Volume 19, No. 44
  • Volume 19, No. 43
  • Volume 19, No. 42
  • Volume 19, No. 41
  • Volume 19, No. 40
  • Volume 19, No. 39
  • Volume 19, No. 38
  • Volume 19, No. 37
  • Volume 19, No. 36
  • Volume 19, No. 35
  • Volume 19, No. 34
  • Volume 19, No. 33
  • Volume 19, No. 32
  • Volume 19, No. 31
  • Volume 19, No. 30
  • Volume 19, No. 29
  • Volume 19, No. 28
  • Volume 19, No. 27
  • Volume 19, No. 26
  • Volume 19, No. 25
  • Volume 19, No. 24
  • Volume 19, No. 23
  • Volume 19, No. 22
  • Volume 19, No. 21
  • Volume 19, No. 20
  • Volume 19, No. 19
  • Volume 19, No. 18
  • Volume 19, No. 17
  • Volume 19, No. 16
  • Volume 19, No. 15
  • Volume 19, No. 14
  • Volume 19, No. 13
  • Volume 19, No. 12
  • Volume 19, No. 11
  • Volume 19, No. 10
  • Volume 19, No. 9
  • Volume 19, No. 8
  • Volume 19, No. 7
  • Volume 19, No. 6
  • Volume 19, No. 5
  • Volume 19, No. 4
  • Volume 19, No. 3
  • Volume 19, No. 2
  • Volume 19, No. 1
  • LATEST ON SATP

  • South Asia Intelligence Review
  • South Asia Fatalities Data 2023
  • South Asia Timeline Data 2023
  • South Asia Assessment
  • South Asia Documents
  • Fatalities in Terrorist Violence

  • Terrorism Related Fatalities in Afghanistan
  • Terrorism Related Fatalities in Bangladesh
  • Terrorism Related Fatalities in Bhutan
  • Terrorism Related Fatalities in India
  • Terrorism Related Fatalities in Nepal
  • Terrorism Related Fatalities in Pakistan
  • Terrorism Related Fatalities in Sri Lanka
  • Quick Links

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Support Us
  • Faculty
  • Feedback
  • Social Links

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Disclaimer

Newsletter

copyright © satp 2017, all right reserved.
In Case of Problem in Access Click Here to go to Old SATP Website.