NEW DELHI, Sept 23 (Reuters) – India’s federal anti-terror company on Saturday stated it confiscated the properties of an alleged Khalistani militant whom it accuses of terror actions in India, as tensions with Canada develop over Sikh separatists.
The seizure of a home and land owned by Gurpatwant Singh Pannu in India’s northern state of Punjab “comes as a giant increase to the nation’s crackdown on the phobia and secessionist community being operated from varied international locations, together with Canada,” a press release issued by the Nationwide Investigation Company (NIA) stated.
Tensions between India and Canada escalated after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated on Monday there have been “credible allegations” linking Indian authorities brokers to the homicide in Canada in June of a Sikh separatist chief campaigning for the creation of an unbiased Sikh homeland referred to as “Khalistan”.
Following the diplomatic standoff between the 2 international locations, movies of Pannu threatening Indian Hindus to depart Canada surfaced on social media platform ‘X’ (previously Twitter).
The anti-terror company had registered a case in opposition to the alleged militant in 2019 for spreading concern and terror in Punjab and different components of the nation.
NIA issued non-bailable warrants of arrest in opposition to Pannu in February 2021 and he was declared a ‘Proclaimed Offender (PO)’ in November final 12 months. (Reporting by Sarita Chaganti Singh; modifying by Clelia Oziel)