Sikh activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun revealed on Tuesday that both the FBI and the RCMP have cautioned him about a credible new threat to his life. This warning comes as another individual awaits sentencing later this year for 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 refrain from traveling until the threat is neutralized. They also instructed him to inform the agency beforehand if he plans to travel. Additionally, the RCMP contacted Pannun by phone on the same day to relay the warning, although specific details about the threat were not disclosed by either agency.
In accordance with the “duty to warn” protocol in the U.S., American intelligence and law enforcement agencies are obligated to notify individuals when they identify credible threats of murder, severe bodily harm, or kidnapping against them.
Sikhs for Justice has been organizing referendums worldwide advocating for an independent nation-state known as Khalistan, causing tension with the Indian government. Recently, Inderjeet Singh Gosal, leading the movement in Canada following the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, received a threat warning on August 14. Gosal was appointed by Pannun to take over after Nijjar’s tragic death in 2023.
Furthermore, four Indian nationals are awaiting trial in connection with Nijjar’s killing, with two men in California facing charges of ordering the murder. Despite the threats, Pannun remains resolute, urging the U.S. and Canadian governments to address Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding threats to their sovereignty.
As Nikhil Gupta of India anticipates sentencing in November for his involvement in a 2023 plot to assassinate Pannun, the FBI disclosed that Gupta was instructed by an Indian government employee to carry out the killing. Gupta, who pleaded guilty to various charges, is facing a minimum of twenty years in prison based on federal sentencing guidelines.
Pannun, expressing his determination in a recent phone interview, declared he is undeterred by the threats and called for action against the Modi government’s actions. He emphasized that the ongoing threats only strengthen his resolve and belief in the effectiveness of his advocacy efforts.
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