Prominent Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun revealed that both the FBI and the RCMP have informed him of a fresh and credible threat to his life. This warning comes amidst an ongoing legal case related to a 2023 murder plot against him.
Pannun, serving as the general counsel for Sikhs For Justice, disclosed that FBI agents advised him on August 12 to refrain from traveling until the threat is mitigated. Additionally, if he decides to travel, he must inform the agency beforehand. Similarly, the RCMP communicated the threat to him via telephone on Tuesday, with no specific details provided. Both law enforcement entities have not responded to requests for comments.
In the U.S., there exists a “duty to warn” protocol, which mandates American intelligence and law enforcement agencies to notify individuals upon discovering credible and specific threats of murder, severe bodily harm, or kidnapping against them.
Sikhs for Justice has stirred controversy by orchestrating a series of referendums advocating for an independent nation-state named Khalistan, much to the displeasure of the Indian government. Notably, a recent referendum was conducted in Indianapolis, and another is scheduled for Edmonton on October 18.
Inderjeet Singh Gosal, now leading the Sikhs for Justice movement in Canada following the tragic death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023, received a threat warning on August 14. Gosal was appointed by Pannun to succeed Nijjar, who was fatally shot in a Sikh temple parking lot in Surrey, B.C., on June 18, 2023.
Regarding the Nijjar case, four Indian nationals await trial for their alleged involvement in the killing after being apprehended in Edmonton and Ontario in spring 2024. Furthermore, federal officials in California have charged two individuals earlier this summer with orchestrating the killing, although both remain at large.
Meanwhile, Nikhil Gupta from India is awaiting sentencing in Manhattan federal court on November 20 for his involvement in a 2023 plot to assassinate Pannun. Gupta, who pleaded guilty earlier this year, was directed by an Indian government employee to carry out the killing. His guilty plea includes charges of murder for hire, conspiracy to commit murder for hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, potentially leading to a minimum of two decades in prison based on federal sentencing guidelines.
In a recent phone interview, Pannun, who acquired Canadian citizenship in the early 2000s, expressed his unwavering stance against the attempts to intimidate him. He urged the U.S. and Canadian governments to address Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding threats to their sovereignty, emphasizing the need for accountability.
Despite the threats, Pannun remains resolute in his activism, viewing the continued intimidations as a testament to the effectiveness of his advocacy. He asserted, “I’m going to continue, even at the cost of a bullet.”