India targets radical Sikh groups overseas with help from UK and Canada

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<strong>The British and Canadian police agencies are believed to be tightening the noose around radical Sikh groups who have been for over the past few months busy promoting a toxic propaganda against India.</strong></p>
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It has been reported that documents and electronic devices related to the so-called 'Punjab Referendum' were seized during British Police's raid at the office of the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) outfit in Hounslow, a large suburban district in West London, earlier this month.</p>
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The SFJ was declared as an unlawful association by the Indian government in 2019 after the individuals running it were found to be involved in various acts of terrorism from across the border and foreign soil.<br />
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Making nefarious efforts to destabilize the country, the SFJ was trying to revive militancy in Punjab through their anti-national activities and its support to and involvement in the Khalistan movement.<br />
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A <a href="https://www.news18.com/news/world/uk-police-raid-on-sikhs-for-justice-office-exposes-vote-rigging-in-punjab-referendum-farce-4487408.html">report</a> stated that, during the raid at its office in London, the police recovered documents that sought to inflate the number of voters in the referendum, an activity which turned out to be a huge farce due to very low participation.  <br />
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It said that the local police have also detained an individual with links to Pakistan in the process. The outfit was creating fake identity cards using electronic devices to raise the referendum figures.  <br />
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Sikhs for Justice had played a massive role during the farmers' protest in India, reportedly even offering a reward 125,000 US Dollars to anyone who raised the Khalistani flag at key government buildings in New Delhi.  <br />
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Meanwhile, the Hindustan Times has reported that a National Investigation Agency (NIA) team which was visiting Ottawa this week has formally requested Canada to declare Sikhs for Justice a terrorist entity.<br />
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The Canadian authorities were told that SFJ was fuelling violence in India, particularly in Punjab, as part of its separatist agenda which includes spearheading the Punjab Referendum.<br />
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"A senior Indian official speaking on condition of anonymity said that the Canadian law enforcement was 'very responsive' to India's concerns during the 'comprehensive' discussions and a 'few other entities' also figured in the talks," the newspaper <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/india-asks-canada-to-list-separatist-outfit-sikhs-for-justice-as-terrorist-entity-101636178062812.html">reported</a>.<br />
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In July 2020, while reiterating the Narendra Modi government's commitment to firmly fight the menace of terrorism, Home Minister Amit Shah had declared nine individuals from Punjab as designated terrorists under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).<br />
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The names included Wadhawa Singh Babbar (Pakistan-based chief of terrorist organisation Babbar Khalsa International), Lakhbir Singh (Pakistan-based chief of terrorist organisation International Sikh Youth Federation), Ranjeet Singh (Pakistan-based chief of terrorist organisation Khalistan Zindabad Force), Paramjit Singh (Pakistan-based chief of terrorist organisation Khalistan Commando Force), Bhupinder Singh Bhinda and Gurmeet Singh Bagga (both based in Germany and key members of terrorist organisation Khalistan Zindabad Force), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun (USA-based key member of unlawful association Sikh for Justice), Hardeep Singh Nijjar (Canada-based chief of Khalistan Tiger Force) and Paramjit Singh (UK-based chief of terrorist organisation Babbar Khalsa International).<br />
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In 2019, the government had amended the UAPA to include the provision of designating an individual as a terrorist. Prior to this amendment, only organisations could be designated as terrorist organisations. By invoking the said amended provision in September 2019, the Modi government had designated four individuals as terrorists – Maulana Masood Azhar, Hafeez Saeed, Zaki-ur-RehmanLakhvi and Dawood Ibrahim.<br />
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<strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/india-news/pro-khalistan-placards-seen-in-amritsar-on-operation-blue-star-anniversary-93340.html">Pro-Khalistan placards seen in Amritsar on Operation Blue Star anniversary</a></strong></p>