SFJ claims campaigners are activists not terrorists

Jalandhar: After Punjab Police claimed that a terror module busted by them was linked to American resident Harjap Singh Japhi, who is associated with US-based rights group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), the group has refuted the police's allegations of terrorism by Sikh activists campaigning for "Referendum 2020". SFJ has announced to provide legal defence to its campaigners in the US and Punjab.
SFJ on Thursday claimed that Jaspreet Singh, Hardip Singh and Kuldip Singh, who were arrested by police last week and belonged to Hoshiarpur district, were being falsely charged with terrorism. It said they were "in fact political activists who just distributed pamphlets and T-shirts in support for the referendum".
"We reiterate our commitment to continue campaign for 'Punjab Independence' through democratic and peaceful means," said SFJ legal adviser Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
About US resident Harjap, who has also been named in the case registered under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Arms Act, Pannun said, "Japhi in fact is only running the referendum campaign on social media."
"Punjab Police's terror charges against Japhi are based only on making phone calls to Village Handowal's Jassa and providing money, religious literature and T-shirts but the said actions of Jaaphi are not crimes in any book of law," Pannun argued while also terming"
SFJ's website and Facebook page have been blocked by the Indian government for running referendum campaign. "Now, filing of fabricated terror charges against SFJ's campaigners is another attempt to silence the demand for Punjab's independence," he added.
"The youths arrested were working for 'Referendum 2020' launched by SFJ, and they were also planning to carry out some terror activity with the weapons recovered from them," Jalandhar zone IG Lok Nath Angra had said after the arrests.
Police claimed to have recovered three pistols, ammunition, apart from T-shirts with 'provocative slogans' and literature, which was also radical in nature. While police have arrested four persons, total seven were booked, including Japhi and Italy-based Avtar Singh.