Khalistani Flag Hoisting: Convictions in Moga Standoff

A special NIA court sentenced Inderjeet and Jaspal Singh to prison for hoisting a Khalistani flag in Moga, Punjab. Instigated by designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, they committed the act on a government building. The court imposed a five-year-six-month sentence and fines, exposing a broader campaign led by Pannun.

A special court in Mohali has sentenced two men, Inderjeet Singh and Jaspal Singh, to over five years in prison for hoisting a Khalistani flag on a government building in Punjab's Moga. This move was reportedly instigated by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a designated terrorist and head of the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) revealed that the duo climbed atop the deputy commissioner's office in Moga on August 14, 2020, and hoisted the saffron-yellow flag with 'KHALISTAN' emblazoned on it. They were also found guilty of desecrating the Indian national flag by cutting its rope.

The investigation further showed that another SFJ member, Harpreet Singh, paid the accused for their actions. This incident forms part of a larger campaign by Pannun, who urged others to hoist similar flags, offering financial incentives. Pannun, along with an associate, remains a proclaimed offender abroad.