Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun revealed on Tuesday that both the FBI and the RCMP have alerted him to a new credible threat on his life, following an earlier foiled assassination plot in 2023. Pannun, who serves as the general counsel for Sikhs For Justice, disclosed that FBI agents advised him against traveling until the threat is neutralized, emphasizing the importance of informing the agency in advance of any travel plans. Similarly, the RCMP contacted Pannun, a dual U.S. and Canadian citizen, to warn him about the recent threat, although specific details regarding the threat were not disclosed by either law enforcement entity.
Under the “duty to warn” protocol in the U.S., it is mandatory for intelligence and law enforcement agencies to notify individuals when credible and explicit threats of murder, severe bodily harm, or kidnapping are identified. Sikhs for Justice, an organization advocating for a separate Sikh nation called Khalistan, has been conducting referendums worldwide, provoking tensions with the Indian government. Recently, Inderjeet Singh Gosal, appointed by Pannun to lead the movement in Canada after the tragic death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023, received a threat warning from the RCMP.
In connection to Nijjar’s killing, four Indian nationals are awaiting trial after being apprehended in Canada, while two individuals in California have been charged with ordering the assassination, although they are not currently 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 murder plot against Pannun, as confirmed earlier this year when he pleaded guilty to various charges.
Despite the threats against him, Pannun remains resolute, expressing his determination to continue his activism without fear. He urged the U.S. and Canadian governments to address the threats to their sovereignty posed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration, stressing the need for accountability. Pannun asserted that the persistent threats only strengthen his resolve and conviction in his cause, declaring his unwavering commitment even in the face of danger.