Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun revealed on Tuesday that he has been alerted by the FBI and the RCMP about a credible new threat to his life. This warning comes in the wake of an ongoing case involving a man facing sentencing later this year for his involvement in a 2023 plot to harm Pannun.
Pannun, serving as the general counsel for Sikhs For Justice, disclosed that FBI agents advised him on August 12 to avoid traveling until the threat situation is resolved. Additionally, they instructed him to inform the agency beforehand if he plans to travel. He also received a warning from the RCMP via telephone on the same day. However, specific details about the threat were not provided by either law enforcement agency, and requests for comments from them remain unanswered.
Under the “duty to warn” protocol in the U.S., intelligence and law enforcement agencies are mandated to notify individuals upon discovering credible and specific threats against them, such as murder, severe bodily harm, or kidnapping.
Sikhs for Justice, an organization advocating for a separate Sikh nation called Khalistan, has been conducting referendums worldwide, causing tensions with the Indian government. Recently, Inderjeet Singh Gosal, appointed by Pannun to lead the movement in Canada after the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, received a similar threat warning from the RCMP.
The killing of Nijjar in 2023 led to the arrest of four Indian nationals in connection with the case. Two individuals in California were charged with orchestrating the murder, but they are currently not in U.S. custody.
Meanwhile, Nikhil Gupta from India is awaiting sentencing in a Manhattan federal court on November 20 for his involvement in a 2023 plot to assassinate Pannun. Gupta pleaded guilty to several charges, including murder for hire and money laundering conspiracy, with sentencing guidelines recommending a minimum of twenty years in prison.
Despite the threats, Pannun, a dual U.S. and Canadian citizen, remains resolute and undeterred in his activism. He has called on both the U.S. and Canadian governments to address Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi concerning threats to their sovereignty. Pannun views the ongoing threats as validation of his advocacy work, expressing determination to persist despite the risks.