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New Delhi, Oct 30 (IANS) Every year, before November, the banned terrorist group, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), is in the news as it wants to observe Sikh Genocide Month.
The connection between November and the Khalistan issue stems from the November 1984 massacre that followed the assassination of Indira Gandhi on 31 October 1984.
Pro-Khalistan elements in Canada, the US and the UK organize events to draw attention to their demands for a separate Punjab nation.
Last November, SFJ chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun had issued a threat against the Ram temple and other temples. In the same month, he had warned people not to fly by Air India between 1 and 19 November. This year he has threatened Diljit Dosang’s Aura 2025 concert to be held on November 1 in Melbourne.
While Australian police have raised the alert level, Indian intelligence officials have also warned that Khalistan elements may try to carry out attacks in India.
Officials say the primary objective of the SFJ this year is to undermine India’s cultural diplomacy abroad. They also want to create fear in the minds of those Sikhs who do not agree with the idea of ​​Khalistan.
Therefore, by threatening such events, SFJ wants Sikhs to stay away from such events. Agencies say that SFJ has started many groups on social media and messaging platforms.
A huge amount of funding is coming from many groups associated with SFJ. There are encrypted Telegram channels through which propaganda is being spread and hatred is being created. These same channels are also being used to collect funds.
The agencies have also found that these channels are operated through servers in the US and Canada, which help SFJ hide its activities. SFJ and other pro-Khalistan groups are using the 1984 massacre as an emotional issue to draw Sikhs into their fold.
However, this is not a recent phenomenon and such groups have been carrying out such activities for a long time. However, this year, agencies say the SFJ and its affiliated groups are desperate, and things could get out of control.
This is not the first time that SFJ has used foreign soil to create an uproar. It has done this several times through the various referendums it has called for. Such events have already been held in Australia, America, Britain and Canada.
An official said that although many threats in the past have proved to be false, one cannot take risks. Melbourne Police have raised the alert level from medium to high.
Furthermore, one also has to keep in mind that these groups are becoming extremely frustrated that their movement has not taken off in India. This would mean that some reckless act may be attempted.
In Australia, there are reports that SFJ and its affiliated groups may use a lone actor to carry out an attack or disrupt a show. These developments also come in the wake of ISI’s attempt to attack the Khalistan movement with full force.
It has recently tasked Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) to become the umbrella organization for all other Khalistan terrorist groups.
ISI felt that this would ensure better coordination and better streamline activities. While BKI will oversee grassroots activities, the role of SFJ is to issue threats, encourage recruitment, collect funds and run propaganda for the Khalistan movement.
The ISI, which has harbored these elements for a long time, has now decided that the time has come to go all out, at least in Punjab.
–IANS
Vicky/Dan