SFJ leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has circulated inflammatory content targeting Indian diplomats, branding them “killers” and displaying “Kill India” posters, putting their lives at risk abroad, according to a security note.
BY PC Bureau
A recent tribunal order from the Union Home Ministry has upheld a five-year ban on the pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), 1967. The order alleges that SFJ is “inciting Christians in Manipur to secede from India.” This marks the first time the group’s activities have been publicly linked to the ethnic violence in Manipur, which has displaced over 60,000 people.
The 290-page tribunal order, based on a security agency background note, also reveals that India sought Interpol’s assistance to trace an international number used to send a prerecorded voice message. The message, allegedly from SFJ leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, threatened to bomb the Indian Parliament and Red Fort area to promote the Khalistan referendum. The calls were received on the fixed-line phone of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the mobile phones of two CPI(M) MPs, A.A. Rahim and V. Sivadasan, in July 2024. Pannun resides in the United States.
A Church at Tamenglong
The government accused SFJ of inciting the Christian community in Manipur to demand secession and alleged that the group encouraged people in Tamil Nadu to raise flags for “Dravidstan.” Additionally, SFJ was accused of stoking Muslim sentiments by highlighting claims of minority persecution.
The U.S. Department of Justice previously indicted Indian agents for an assassination attempt on Pannun. While the Home Ministry has not identified the individuals involved, U.S. authorities have linked former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officer Vikash Yadav to a money-for-hire plot and money laundering. Yadav, arrested in Delhi on extortion and kidnapping charges in December 2023, was later released on bail.
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The tribunal order also highlights that Pannun circulated photographs of several Indian diplomats, including ambassadors Vikram Duraiswami, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, and Sanjay Kumar Varma, labeling them as “Killers” in the U.K., U.S., Canada, and Australia. These actions allegedly blamed the diplomats for the 2023 killing of pro-Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada and are seen as endangering their safety.
SFJ is further accused of inciting Sikh personnel in the Indian Army and police to desert their posts, collaborating with gangsters, terrorists, and Kashmiri separatists, and receiving support from Pakistan.
Founded in 2007 and based in the U.S., SFJ advocates for an independent Sikh state (Khalistan) and is known for its “Referendum 2020” campaign. The Indian government has long accused the group of promoting separatism, inciting violence, radicalizing youth, and fostering anti-India sentiments with foreign backing. Despite the assassination attempt and mounting allegations, Pannun remains a prominent figure in SFJ, notorious for his provocative rhetoric and inflammatory campaigns targeting Indian authorities.
Christianity in Manipur
he Christian population in Manipur is estimated to be around 40-45% of the total population, with the majority of Christians belonging to the Naga, Kuki, and Zou tribes. Christianity was introduced to Manipur in the 19th century by British missionaries, and since then, it has grown significantly, particularly among the tribal communities.
Christianity has become a major religion in the state, especially in the hills, where it is a significant part of the cultural and social fabric. Various Christian denominations, including Baptist, Roman Catholic, and Evangelical, are present in the state. The influence of Christianity is particularly pronounced in the Kuki, Naga, and Zou communities, where the majority of the population identifies as Christian.
