The United States authorities have reportedly disrupted an Indian plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and a proponent of the Khalistan movement. Sources who disclosed this information to the Financial Times (FT) have raised concerns about the Indian government’s alleged involvement in this conspiracy.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an advocate for an independent Sikh state named “Khalistan” and spearheading a global campaign called Khalistan Referendum, was the intended target of the alleged plot. Anonymously, US sources informed FT of the Indian government’s suspected role in orchestrating Pannun’s assassination. The US has yet to confirm if its intervention with New Delhi led to halting the plot or if the FBI played a role in countering the scheme already underway.
Following the assassination of Canadian Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver, the US briefed certain allies on the alleged plot against Pannun. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has linked India to Nijjar’s murder with “credible allegations.” Post Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington, the US sent a diplomatic warning to India and filed a sealed indictment against at least one suspect in a New York court.
The US Justice Department is deliberating on revealing the indictment details, as one implicated has reportedly left the US. Both the US Justice Department and the FBI have withheld comments. At the same time, the National Security Council emphasized its priority on the safety of US citizens, avoiding discussion on active legal matters.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, in light of these events, has shown trust in the US government’s capacity to handle security threats but did not verify if he had been informed about the assassination plot. He recently cautioned Sikhs about travelling with Air India, clarifying that it was not an ominous warning. The global Khalistan Referendum campaign, conducted under the Punjab Referendum Commission (PRC), commenced in London and has since expanded to various international cities, with an announcement of results anticipated upon completion.
