SFJ chief Pannu’s cousin tried to avert Operation Bluestar

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 9

Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, US-based chief of the banned pro-Khalistan organisation Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), is a cousin of nationalist and former High Commissioner to Ghana Daljit Singh Pannun, who passed away in 2007. The land of both families is situated near each other at Khankot village.

Daljit Singh had made efforts to avert “Operation Bluestar” by mediating between Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwale and the Union Government. He was a pen friend of Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, when he was an Indian Ambassador to Russia. Later, Dr Radhakrishnan invited him to Delhi when he was made Vice-President.

Gaurav Toora, SP (Amritsar Rural), said: “The police have initiated the process to attach the properties of all proclaimed offenders, including Gurpatwant Singh.”

A total of 22 acres of family land has been divided between Gurpatwant Singh and his two brothers.

Attachment of properties

As per NIA, the orders for the attachment of properties of Gurpatwant Singh Pannu were issued in accordance with the ‘powers conferred under Section 51-A of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967’

His entire family land is being cultivated by Bikramjit Singh, a local farmer, on an annual contract for the past 20 years. Bikramjit said teams of the NIA and intelligence agencies had questioned him a few days ago. He told them that he used to pay land rental to Gurpatwant’s father Mahinder Singh and after his death to his mother. “Now, sometimes Gurpatwant’s brother Magwant comes to collect the amount,” he said.

Of the 22 acres, 18 acres fall in Sardara Wala Khankot. The village is divided in three areas with two other being Parla Khankot and Ram Singh Wala Khankot. Situated close to the city and residential colonies being carved out close to Sardara Wala Khankot, the market value of each acre is valued at nearly Rs 60 lakh. The remaining four acres are situated on the rear side of a five-star hotel. It was once owned by Daljit Singh.

Residents of Khankot, Gurpatwant’s ancestral village, refrained from commenting on him.

Sukhdev Singh, sarpanch of the village, said Gurpatwant’s family had migrated to the US over three decades ago, so the young generation did not know much about them. He added that there were three houses of his relatives in the village. However, they were reluctant to speak to the media.