Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual American and Canadian citizen and Sikh separatist leader, stated on Thursday that FBI agents visited his New York home to warn him of a new threat to his life. Pannun said the agents informed him they are investigating leads regarding an "imminent threat" linked to his planned travel to Canada. The FBI did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the meeting.
The warning follows a prior legal case in which federal prosecutors in Manhattan charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta and former Indian intelligence officer Vikash Yadav with plotting to assassinate Pannun in 2023. Gupta pleaded guilty in February to murder-for-hire and conspiracy charges and is scheduled for sentencing in November. This incident occurred around the same time as the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, another Sikh separatist, in British Columbia, which Canadian officials linked to Indian government agents.
The Indian government has consistently denied involvement in the Nijjar killing or the attempt on Pannun's life. Indian officials have categorized Sikh separatists as "terrorists" who pose a threat to national security. Pannun noted that he received similar warnings from the FBI and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in August and September. These warnings followed July criminal charges against leaders of the "Bishnoi" organized crime group, whom U.S. prosecutors tied to Nijjar's assassination.
The concrete day-to-day impact for those involved includes increased law enforcement interaction and personal security measures. Pannun stated that the FBI's investigation specifically cited his potential travel to participate in the upcoming referendum as a factor in the current threat. This underscores ongoing tensions between the Indian government and separatist organizers operating in North America. These events follow a series of indictments involving alleged transnational crime syndicates, such as the Bishnoi group, which prosecutors say operates globally despite its leader being in an Indian prison since 2015.
The situation sets a precedent for how U.S. and Canadian law enforcement agencies manage threats allegedly originating from foreign intelligence or organized crime groups against residents on North American soil. It has already resulted in criminal charges against a former Indian intelligence official and an alleged crime boss. The next significant steps include the Edmonton referendum scheduled for Oct. 18 and the November sentencing of Nikhil Gupta, where Pannun is expected to provide a statement to the court.