The Delhi Police Special Cell has booked Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun for allegedly threatening to create unrest in the national capital ahead of the Republic Day.
The Delhi Police has registered the FIR under Sections 196 (promoting enmity), 197 (imputations prejudicial to national integration), 152 (acts endangering sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India), and 61 (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).
According to the police officials, a video was recently released by Pannun on social media claiming that the pro-Khalistan posters have been pasted in Rohini and Dabri areas of the national capital by his sleeper cells.
However, the police failed to find any pro-Khalistani posters at the locations mentioned by Pannun, ANI reported.
According to officials, Pannun had also announced a reward of US$111,000 for the person who is able to stop the prime minister from hoisting the national flag on January 26 and place Khalistan flags on railway tracks in Punjab, among other acts of disruption, various media organisations reported.
As per some reports, Pannun has also claimed that some pro-Khalistani slogans were spray-painted on the walls of some schools. He has also allegedly used abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the video. News18 could not independently verify the video.
“An FIR has been registered, and the matter is being investigated. We are verifying all claims made in the video and monitoring online platforms closely," said a senior police officer.
The development comes amid heightened security measures by Delhi Police for the 77th Republic Day celebrations following multiple terror-related threat inputs from intelligence agencies.
A multi-layered security cordon, consisting of Delhi Police and paramilitary forces, has been set up around Kartavya Path and throughout the New Delhi district.
The entire area is monitored by an extensive network of CCTV cameras, integrated with an advanced facial recognition system (FRS).
Approximately 10,000 police personnel will be deployed on this national day, with nine briefings conducted on the ground.
“Republic Day is celebrated on a fixed time and is observed in Kartvaya Path. In view of this, there is a security standard protocol, which has been implemented. Around 10,000 police personnel will be on duty. We have conducted briefings and rehearsals 9 times on the ground," Additional Commissioner of Police, New Delhi District, Devesh Kumar Mahala said to ANI.
In addition, the police have deployed anti-drone units for aerial surveillance, and sniper teams have been positioned on high-rise buildings.
