Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), the banned pro-Khalistan group led by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has announced a reward of US $10,000 reward for Australian citizen Wen Johnson, who, wearing a pro-Palestine T-shirt, breached security during the India-Australia ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 final. Top intelligence sources have called “staking claim a dirty trick of the SFJ".
“This is another tactic by Pannun, who has been as a designated terrorist in India. He wants to stake claim on everything. This was seen in the past too," said sources.
Sources added that the SFJ has no role in it. “They make such claims, but never reach out to help or support people," sources said.
THE PITCH INVADER AT WORLD CUP FINAL
Johnson, wearing a T-shirt saying ‘Stop Bombing Palestine’ as well as a bunch of coloured scarfs, invaded the pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. He reportedly tried to hug India batter Virat Kohli after making his way into the field of play. Kohli, too, looked unhappy with the invader as security immediately came into action and got hold of him. Johnson was arrested and taken to the Chand Kheda Police station. While in custody, he spoke to the media, stating that his primary motive was to meet Kohli and express his support for Palestine.
Political sloganeering is an offence at cricket games, but with Johnson being a foreign national, it is not yet known what kind of action will be taken against him. The ICC doesn’t allow any political sloganeering during its event and any such act is also not allowed in India.
Hamas is one of the recognised political players of Palestine. The group, which rules the Gaza Strip, carried out an unprecedented multi-front attack – by air, land and sea – in the southern parts of Israel on October 7, triggering a war. With the strong retaliation by Israel, the crisis has entered its second month, with an increasingly dire humanitarian situation inside the besieged Palestinian enclave and no end in sight.
NOT THE FIRST TIME FOR PANNUN
Pannun is a US citizen who is misusing his access in the UK and Canada. He is responsible for acts of terrorism in multiple countries.
Earlier this month, Pannun had offered cash reward for a “citizen’s arrest" of Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma. Announcing the ‘reward’, Pannun had accused Verma of falsely raising the bogey of terror threat to Air India to “divert attention" from the investigation into the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Members of the SFJ last week disturbed an Indian High Commission event organised by the Vancouver Consulate General in Abbotsford, Canada, even attacking a family for attempting to pick up an Indian flag fallen on the ground, said local sources.
CNN-News18 had earlier reported how Pannun is being funded by Pakistan’s ISI, citing top intelligence sources.
Pannun recently in a statement said that “Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has created more open conversations around India and its handling of the Khalistani independence movement".
With Agency Inputs
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