Interpol: United States-based International Police Organization (Interpol) recently rejected India’s request to issue a Red Corner Notice against Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

Key Points:

• The request was raised by Central Bureau of Investigation's NCB on behalf of National Investigating Agency (NIA).
• NIA's request was rejected on terror charges against the Canada-based founder and legal advisor of pro-Khalistan outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) on the basis that Indian authorities failed to provide sufficient information to support their case.
• In its reply, Interpol has also cited the 'misuse' of UAPA in India to target minorty groups and human rights activists without 'respecting' their right to due process and a fair trial.
• Interpol also pointed out that Pannun's activities have a "clear political dimension" and therefore it cannot be the subject of a Red Corner Notice.

Why India is seeking a red notice against Pannun?

• Gurpatwant Singh Pannun faces several cases in India including sedition and terror-related charges.
• He is also accused of provoking Khalistani movements in the country.
• In 2019, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) declared SFJ as "unlawful association" under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 and banned the organisation for five years.
• The Canada-based founder of the pro-Khalistan outfit Sikhs for Justice was designated as a terrorist in India under UAPA in 2020.

About Interpol:

• The International Criminal Police Organization, commonly known as Interpol, is an international organization with 194-member countries that facilitates worldwide police cooperation and crime control.
• It was established on 7 September 1923.
• It is headquartered in Lyon in France.

Mandate:

• It enables cross-border police cooperation and supports and assists all organisations, authorities and services whose mission is to prevent or combat international crime.
• It provides investigative support, expertise, and training to law enforcement worldwide, focusing on three major areas of transnational crime:

1. Terrorism,
2. Cybercrime, and
3. Organized crime.

• Its broad mandate covers virtually every kind of crime, including crimes against humanity, child pornography, drug trafficking and production, political corruption, intellectual property infringement, and white-collar crime.
• The agency also facilitates cooperation among national law enforcement institutions through criminal databases and communications networks.

Note: Interpol is itself not a law enforcement agency.

Governance:

• All decisions regarding the activities of INTERPOL are made by the General Assembly which is its supreme governing body which meets annually.

About National Central Bureau (NCB):

• It has a National Central Bureau (NCB) in each member country, which is the central point of contact for both the general secretariat and the other NCBs around the world.
• Each NCB is run by police officials of that country, and usually sits in the government ministry responsible for policing (Union Home Ministry in India).
• Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) represents Interpol in India as the country's national central bureau.

Types of Notices:

It issues 8 type of notices out of which 7 are colour-coded.

They are in the form of alert/requests allowing police in member countries to share critical crime-related information.

1. Red Notice: To seek the location and arrest of a person wanted by a judicial jurisdiction or an international tribunal with a view to his/her extradition. It is the "closest instrument to an international arrest warrant”.
2. Blue Notice: To locate, identify or obtain information on a person of interest in a criminal investigation.
3. Green Notice: To warn about a person's criminal activities if that person is considered to be a possible threat to public safety.
4. Yellow Notice: To locate a missing person or to identify a person unable to identify himself/herself.
5. Black Notice: To seek information on unidentified bodies.
6. Orange Notice: To warn of an event, a person, an object or a process representing an imminent threat and danger to persons or property.
7. Purple Notice: To provide information on modus operandi, procedures, objects, devices or hiding places used by criminals.

Interpol-UNSC Special Notice: To inform Interpol's members that an individual or an entity is subject to UN sanctions.