NEW DELHI, Sept 23 (Reuters) – India’s federal anti-terror company on Saturday stated it confiscated the properties of an alleged Khalistani militant whom it accuses of terror actions in India, as tensions with Canada develop over Sikh separatists.

The seizure of a home and land owned by Gurpatwant Singh Pannu in India’s northern state of Punjab “comes as a big boost to the country’s crackdown on the terror and secessionist network being operated from various countries, including Canada,” an announcement issued by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) stated.

Tensions between India and Canada escalated after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated on Monday there have been “credible allegations” linking Indian authorities brokers to the homicide in Canada in June of a Sikh separatist chief campaigning for the creation of an impartial Sikh homeland known as “Khalistan”.

Following the diplomatic standoff between the 2 nations, movies of Pannu threatening Indian Hindus to go away Canada surfaced on social media platform ‘X’ (previously Twitter).

The anti-terror company had registered a case towards the alleged militant in 2019 for spreading worry and terror in Punjab and different elements of the nation.

NIA issued non-bailable warrants of arrest towards Pannu in February 2021 and he was declared a ‘Proclaimed Offender (PO)’ in November final yr. (Reporting by Sarita Chaganti Singh; modifying by Clelia Oziel)