Aditya Vaibhav | Team TrickyScribe: The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal on Friday confirmed the Central Government’s decision to extend the ban on Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) as an unlawful association for an additional five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Additional Solicitor General SD Sanjay informed Team TrickyScribe that the Union Government had initially declared SFJ as unlawful in July 2024, invoking provisions of the UAPA, which require tribunal approval for any ban to take effect.
Additional Solicitor General SD Sanjay said that the tribunal deemed SFJ’s activities a violation of both the UAPA and the Indian Constitution. As a result, it upheld the government’s decision to impose a five-year ban on the organization, he added.
Evidence Links SFJ to Terror Groups and ISI
Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta, presiding over the tribunal, found substantial evidence connecting SFJ with Khalistani terror organizations such as Babbar Khalsa International and Khalistan Tiger Force. The group was also linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), with allegations of efforts to reignite militancy in Punjab.
Radicalization and Terror Funding via Social Media
The tribunal highlighted SFJ’s role in recruiting and radicalizing youth through social media platforms, financing terror activities through smuggling, and issuing death threats to prominent Indian leaders, including the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.
Surge in Unlawful Activities: 122 FIRs in Five Years
The tribunal reported a dramatic rise in SFJ’s unlawful activities, with registered cases increasing from 11 FIRs in 2019 to 122 FIRs by 2024. This surge underscores the organization’s escalating threat to national security.
Incitement of Mutiny and Vandalism
SFJ was accused of inciting mutiny among Sikh personnel in the Indian Army and engaging in acts of vandalism to propagate the Khalistan ideology. Key targets included critical infrastructure like power plants and railways, alongside attempts to disrupt national events such as the G20 Summit.
Exploitation of Cyber Platforms for Separatist Agenda
The tribunal noted SFJ’s use of automated calls and videos to incite separatist sentiments, circulate death threats, and promote propaganda. These efforts included urging symbolic acts like burning the Indian flag and disrupting national events.
Testimonies and Evidence Presented
The tribunal reviewed testimonies from 52 witnesses, including senior police and intelligence officials. The evidence, consisting of videos, documents, and admissions by SFJ leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, corroborated the organization’s unlawful activities.
National Security Threat: Tribunal Justifies Ban
Citing direct threats to India’s sovereignty and security, the tribunal deemed SFJ’s activities a violation of both the UAPA and the Indian Constitution. As a result, it upheld the government’s decision to impose a five-year ban on the organization.
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