The Special Court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) at SAS Nagar (Mohali) has convicted and sentenced two individuals in connection with a 2020 incident involving the hoisting of a Khalistan flag on a government building in Moga, Punjab, following instigation by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) general counsel and designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
The accused, Moga residents Inderjeet Singh and Jaspal Singh, were sentenced to five years and six months' imprisonment and fined Rs 16,000 each under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UA(P) Act), and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, the NIA stated.
The NIA had previously filed chargesheets against the two alongside two other arrested suspects and two absconders based in the United States, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and his associate Rana Singh, also known as Harpreet Singh. In 2021, the Mohali Special Court declared Pannun and Harpreet Singh proclaimed offenders in the case.
According to the investigation, Inderjeet and Jaspal, prompted by Pannun and incentivised by a cash reward from SFJ, hoisted a saffron/yellow flag bearing the word “KHALISTAN” at the Deputy Commissioner's office in Moga on August 14, 2020, one day before Independence Day.
The accused entered the administrative complex, ascended to the top of the building, and displayed the flag on a fixed iron pole. They also allegedly insulted the Indian national flag by cutting its rope, causing it to fall, and dragging the tricolour.
Investigations further revealed that Harpreet Singh had facilitated payment to the accused for carrying out the act.
The NIA added that between August 10 and 11, 2020, Pannun had uploaded a video on social media urging residents of Punjab and Haryana to hoist Khalistani flags. He additionally announced a reward of USD 125,000 for hoisting such a flag at the Red Fort in Delhi and USD 2,500 for hoisting it at any government office.