New Delhi (NVI): India has reached out to the US with a mutual legal assistance request for investigation into designated Khalistani terror group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), the Ministry of External Affairs said today.
“India has issued a Mutual Legal Assistance Request to USA for investigation in the matter of Sikhs for Justice/Referendum 2020. As per procedure, the request has been sent directly by the concerned authorities to the US Department of Justice (DoJ). You may wish to contact the Ministry of Home Affairs for further information,” MEA spokesman Anurag Srivastava said during the weekly briefing here.
Recently, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had filed a case against SFJ, especially in the wake of farmers’ protests and the possibility of the presence of Khalistani elements among the protesters who had planned a tractor rally on January 26 (Republic Day) in Delhi.
In a press briefing on January 28, MEA had said that India is closely engaged with foreign governments to apprise them of threats posed by certain Khalistani elements amid reports of these anti-India activities by these elements.
“As regards anti-India activities of certain elements abroad which actually represent a very small fringe of community, we are closely engaged with the relevant foreign governments to apprise them of the threats posed, convey our concerns as well and to seek their interventions,” Anurag Srivastava had said.
“As you would know, the safety and security of the Indian diplomatic premises and personnel is the responsibility of the host government and whenever the protests and demonstrations held or they are going to be held we ask them to take necessary action to safeguard our premises and personnel,” he said.
Notably, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, USA-based key member of Unlawful Association, SFJ, is among nine individuals declared as designated terrorists by MHA under provisions of amended UAPA Act, for trying to revive militancy in Punjab.
-ARK
