Sikh separatist 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. Pannun, who serves as the general counsel for Sikhs For Justice, stated that FBI agents advised him on August 12 not to travel until the threat is resolved. They also requested that he inform the agency beforehand if he plans to travel. Additionally, the RCMP contacted Pannun by phone on the same day to provide a similar warning.
Both law enforcement agencies did not disclose specific details about the identified threat. In the U.S., there is a “duty to warn” policy that requires intelligence and law enforcement entities to inform individuals when they uncover credible threats of murder, severe bodily harm, or kidnapping against them.
Sikhs for Justice has been conducting referendums globally advocating for an independent nation-state called Khalistan, leading to tensions with the Indian government. Recently, Inderjeet Singh Gosal, who took over the leadership of Sikhs for Justice in Canada following the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023, received a warning letter about a threat on August 14. Nijjar was killed in Surrey, B.C., and four Indian nationals are awaiting trial in connection with the case.
The latest threat against Pannun coincides with the impending sentencing of Nikhil Gupta from India in Manhattan federal court on November 20. Gupta pleaded guilty earlier this year to involvement in a 2023 plot to assassinate Pannun. The FBI revealed that Gupta was instructed by an Indian government official to carry out the assassination, which was intercepted when he unknowingly communicated with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a hitman.
Gupta admitted guilt to various charges, including murder for hire and conspiracy to commit murder for hire, with potential sentencing guidelines indicating a minimum of two decades in prison. Despite the threats, Pannun remains resolute and unwavering, calling on the U.S. and Canadian governments to address the threats to their sovereignty posed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration. Pannun expressed determination to continue his activism, emphasizing that the threats only strengthen his resolve, even if it means risking his life.
