Reported By: Manoj Gupta
News18.com
Last Updated: November 05, 2023, 14:20 IST
Ottawa, Canada
Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. (File photo/News18)
India will raise the issue of security threats being issued to Air India flights to and from Canada by a Sikh separatist group and ask the authorities to enhance security on Indian flights.
Top intelligence sources told CNN-News18 that India is raising security bars in the airlines adding that a threat analysis was sent to MEA and urgent steps will be taken soon.
“Punnun is openly threatening one nation sitting in these countries and no action is taken despite multiple requests. He has already attacked Indian HC in the UK and Canada,” sources said.
“We have done a briefing as per security guidelines and our missions will be in touch with concerned authorities in their respective countries. It is feared that Punnun can radicalise people and the same can translate to hostage crises or physical damage to Air India,” the sources added.
Apart from that, the Air India crew will also be briefed as they halt to various cities in these countries during layover for 24/48 hours
The threat was issued by a Sikh separatist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) led by Gurpatwant Pannun in a video released on Saturday.
In the video, he warned Sikhs, in Punjabi, “Don’t fly Air India after November 19, your lives may be in danger.” That sentence was repeated twice. In a statement issued along with the video, Pannun also called for a ‘Global blockade’ of the airline from Vancouver to London.
About the video, Singh said, “We have studied the contents of the video, which is in clear violation of the Chicago Convention that out a framework for international civil aviation operations. Canada and India, among many other nations, are Parties to the Convention.”
The official also added that the civil aviation agreement between India and Canada has provisions to tackle such threats and the issue will be discussed with the authorities with utmost urgency.
This comes at a time when the ties between India and Canada are ‘going through a difficult phase’ following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations in September over the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June.
Days after Trudeau’s allegations, India announced temporarily suspending the issuance of visas to Canadian citizens and asked Ottawa to downsize its diplomatic presence in the country to ensure parity.
Canada has already withdrawn 41 diplomats and their family members from India.
