Pannun’s Fake Flag Charade Falls Flat: How India Defused a Digital Psy-Op

Snapshot of viral video of SFJ leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun spreading mis-information.

In yet another attempt to provoke unrest and attract global attention, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun’s Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) recently circulated a video claiming that a Khalistan flag had been raised near Bathinda Airport in Punjab. The video, released alongside a call to boycott Air India flights in several countries, was timed to coincide with the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and framed as “economic warfare” against India.

Within hours, Indian authorities debunked the claim. The Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check unit confirmed that Bathinda airfield remained fully operational and that no such incident of a flag-raising had taken place. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) also clarified that the SFJ has been designated an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for its continued attempts to incite division and spread false narratives against the Indian state.

Government security agencies further verified that no breach of security or protest activity was reported in or around Bathinda Airport. Preliminary cyber-forensic analysis of the circulated video indicated that it was not recorded recently and may have been manipulated to create a false impression of a symbolic separatist act. Officials stated that the claim was part of a coordinated disinformation campaign aimed at manufacturing unrest among sections of the Sikh diaspora.

This incident follows a consistent pattern in SFJ’s activities, which increasingly rely on digital propaganda rather than genuine mobilization. The group’s repeated use of unverified footage, staged announcements, and false claims reflects a deliberate strategy of psychological warfare targeting perceptions rather than realities. As security officials have noted, the organization’s efforts are intended to sustain relevance among a shrinking audience abroad, rather than influence sentiment within India.

The rapid response by the PIB Fact Check unit and the MHA’s communication channels underscores the growing efficiency of India’s institutional mechanisms in identifying and countering hostile narratives. The prompt clarification prevented the misinformation from gaining traction, limiting its potential to disrupt public order or diplomatic relations.

The Bathinda flag hoax is therefore emblematic of SFJ’s declining credibility. What was meant to project defiance instead revealed desperation. The Sikh community, both within India and internationally, has repeatedly rejected divisive propaganda and reaffirmed its commitment to peace, progress, and national unity.

Pannun’s latest attempt at digital provocation has achieved little beyond exposing the fragility of his movement. It stands as a reminder that misinformation, when swiftly and transparently countered, loses its potency. India’s proactive approach through official verification, legal accountability, and community awareness remains its strongest defense against such psychological operations. https://x.com/Sikhs4India/status/1982687085741183243