Fugitive Pannun hiding abroad like a scared mouse: State police

The Punjab Police on Saturday dubbed designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun a “fugitive hiding abroad like a scared mouse” after several Patiala schools received an email allegedly from the banned Sikhs for Justice group, asking them to refrain from the Republic Day celebrations.

In a revised strategy to counter repeated threats issued by Pannun and gangsters or terrorists operating from abroad, the police in a video message also asked him to stop misguiding the youth by promising money and foreign settlement.

After several schools across Patiala received the email asking them to suspend participation in the Republic Day celebrations, police officials termed such threats as “hollow” and “a mere ploy by such groups to raise funds” for his motive to disturb the state’s law and order.

The police response came following a meeting of DGP Gaurav Yadav with senior state officers. It was decided to combat the threats issued by Pannun and his banned group through social media during the discussions.

Patiala DIG Mandeep Singh Sidhu released the police response in a video uploaded on social media.

“Pannun is scared of the Punjab Police and that is why he is hiding in the US. He is a wanted criminal and very soon we will bring him here and you will see him sitting like a criminal in a police canter,” said Sidhu.

Sidhu alleged that Pannun is “playing a fraud on the US also as he is promising immigration to the youth in exchange of painting (pro-Khalistan) graffiti on walls in the state,” he added.

Patiala SSP Nanak Singh said they have made elaborate security arrangements for the Republic Day event at Polo Ground, where Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will be unfurl the Tricolour.

The venue was shifted to Patiala on Thursday after a pro- Khalistan graffiti at a Faridkot stadium — the earlier location for the CM’s function — triggered a security scare.

The SFJ led by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun had claimed responsibility for the act.

Security up in Amritsar

Security has been tightened in Amritsar after Pannun threatened to unfurl a Khalistan flag at the district administrative complex on Republic Day.

Two days ago, Pannun in a video message had threatened to put up Khalistani flags at the DC office complex in various districts of Punjab, including Amritsar, Jalandhar and Gurdaspur.

Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the police have been on alert while he has also written to the Deputy Commissioner in this connection, urging them to be vigilant in view of the threats by Pannun. As many as 2,500 police personnel have been deployed for security to maintain law and order in the city.

Pro-Khalistan graffiti at Faridkot again

Pro-Khalistan messages were found scrawled across the wall of a flyover at the entrance of Faridkot

These were believed to be scribbled in the early hours on Saturday. The police covered the graffiti with a black paint.

Security has been beefed up across Punjab for Republic Day. In Amritsar, Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said he had also written to the DC, asking for extra caution in view of the threats by Pannun.