Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has issued a disturbing warning for air travelers, advising against flying on Air India flights from November 1 to 19. In a recently surfaced video, Pannun claims there is a potential attack planned during this period, which notably marks the 40th anniversary of the 1984 Sikh genocide.
The threat arrives amid the ongoing controversy surrounding Vikash Yadav, a former RAW officer named by U.S. prosecutors as a co-conspirator in a plot to eliminate Pannun. This backdrop adds a layer of complexity to Pannun’s alarming statement.
Pannun, who holds dual citizenship in Canada and the United States, is the founder of the banned group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), advocating for a separate Sikh state. This is not the first time he has made such threats; a similar warning was issued around the same time last year. His latest declaration coincides with a troubling rise in hoax bomb threats directed at various Indian airlines and occurs amid a diplomatic row between India and Canada. The tension escalated after Canada accused India of targeting Khalistani elements on its soil, including the assassination of another terrorist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
In November 2023, Pannun had warned that Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport would be shut down and renamed on November 19, reiterating his caution against flying with Air India on that date. His repeated threats have led to significant legal consequences; the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charged him with criminal conspiracy, promoting enmity on religious grounds, and violations of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Pannun’s history of issuing threats is extensive. In December of the previous year, he warned of an attack on India’s Parliament by December 13, coinciding with the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terrorist attack. This came after reports surfaced of a foiled plot to assassinate him. Furthermore, he has directed threats towards Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Director General of State Police Gaurav Yadav, calling for gangsters to unite and target Mann on Republic Day, January 26, 2024.
The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs designated Pannun as a terrorist in July 2020 due to his activities promoting sedition and secessionism. In July 2019, the Indian government had already banned SFJ as an unlawful association for engaging in anti-national and subversive activities.