SFJ inciting Manipur Christians to secede, claims agency note

Sikhs for Justice, the banned pro-Khalistan organisation, is allegedly 'inciting Christians in Manipur to secede from India', said a background note on SFJ prepared by security agencies.

The background note was part of a tribunal order that was released by the Union home ministry on Wednesday. The tribunal upheld the 5-year ban under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), 1967, on SFJ, early this month. This is perhaps for the first time that the role of SFJ has been mentioned in Manipur, where ethnic strife has displaced more than 60,000 people across the state.

The note further stated that SFJ and its legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannun usually undertake their activities from the office in New York and California. The note further spells out the address with phone number and fax details. It may be recalled that the US Department of Justice has indicted Indian agents for carrying out an assassination bid on Pannun in the United States.


A high-powered enquiry committee recently recommended immediate legal action against an individual. MHA did not name any individual. However, former Research and Analysis Wing officer Vikash Yadav was indicted by the US authorities in October for carrying out a money-for-hire plot and money laundering charges. Yadav was arrested by the special cell of Delhi Police in December 2023 and later released on bail by a local court after charges of extortion and kidnapping were filed against him.

In its 290-page order against SFJ, the note stated, "Photographs of Indian diplomats - ambassador Vikram Duraiswami, ambassador Tranajot Singh Sandhu, ambassador Sanjay Kumar Varma, Aseem R Mahajan, Dr Shashank Vikram, Ms Apoorva Srivastava and Manish - have been circulated by Pannun mentioning them as 'Killers in UK', 'Killers in USA', 'Killers in Canada', 'Killers in Australia' while blaming them for killing of pro-Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar (in Canada in 2023) and prominently displaying 'Kill India' posters, thus making Indian diplomats vulnerable and putting at risk the lives of senior Indian diplomats, officials and their families posted in various countries."

The note mentioned SFJ has been inciting Sikh personnel in the Army and police to desert the forces.

"SFJ has been colluding with gangsters, terrorists and other radical elements, including Kashmiri separatists. Besides, SFJ continues to receive support from Pakistan," it adds.