Case Against Khalistani Group After Threat Call To Assam's Himanta Sarma

The police in Assam have sounded an alert for Central agencies and strengthened security cover of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma after an audio clip was sent to a few journalists in which a Khalistani group is heard issuing threats against him. A case under UAPA has been lodged against the group. The Assam Chief Minister is a Z-Plus category protectee.

State police chief GP Singh tweeted:  

"Reference audio clip threatening Hon CM Assam by a person called Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, a designated individual terrorist under Indian law and heading an unlawful association called Sikh for Justice -

1. A case under appropriate sections of IPC and UAP Act has been registered at STF Police Station of Assam.

2. The security component of Hon CM has been adequately sensitised to the emerging threat.

3. In view of global events, the threat is being taken very seriously by Assam Police.

4. The central agencies have been kept in the loop on the issue"

The threat comes as eight close aides of Khalistani separatist Amritpal Singh are kept in Assam's Dibrugarh Central jail.  

In the audio clip being circulated, a Sikh group claiming to be Amritpal Singh's supporters, issued a threat to Mr Sarma. The call was made to a dozen Assam Journalists, according to police sources.

The voice in the audio is heard saying, "Pro-Khalistan supporters, Sikhs, imprisoned in Assam have been tortured… If your government is going to torture and harass Sikhs, you will be held accountable".

The speaker, who claimed to be the General Counsel of Sikhs for Justice, said they were "seeking liberation of Punjab" through "peaceful democratic process" and warned Mr Sarma against "falling prey" to it.  

Since the Punjab police crackdown on Amritpal Singh's group "Waris Punjab De", there have been a string of protests in London and other cities abroad by pro-Khalistan supporters.

The fugitive radical, who has been on the run for over two weeks, released a video on YouTube on Thursday, saying he will not surrender.

The 30-year-old, who styles himself after the Sikh terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, went missing when the police started a crackdown after he and his supporters stormed a police station near Amritsar to secure the release of an arrested supporter.