Sikh Separatist Pannun Says FBI Warns Him of New Credible Threat to His Life

Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said the FBI and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have warned him about a new credible threat to his life. Pannun, a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen and general counsel for Sikhs For Justice, said FBI agents visited him recently and advised him not to travel until the threat is resolved. He said the warning was issued amid continuing security concerns surrounding an earlier alleged plot against him.

Pannun said FBI agents who visited him warned him that he should avoid travelling while the threat remains active. If he needs to travel, he said authorities instructed him to notify the agency in advance about his plans. The warning comes while a man from India is facing sentencing later this year in connection with an alleged 2023 plot to kill Pannun in the United States.

According to Pannun, the warning was issued under the terms of a US “Duty to Warn” law. Such provisions require US intelligence and law enforcement agencies to notify individuals when they become aware of credible and specific threats involving serious violence, including murder, severe bodily harm or kidnapping. Pannun said the latest warning indicates that authorities consider the reported threat sufficiently credible to warrant additional precautions.

Also Read: Ambassador Gor Urges India, US To Bridge Differences And Strengthen Strategic Partnership

Pannun has been a prominent figure in the Khalistan movement, which seeks a separate Sikh state in India. His activities and advocacy have made him a controversial figure and have previously drawn attention from Indian and US authorities. India has accused him of involvement in separatist activities and has designated him a terrorist, while Pannun has denied wrongdoing and continued to campaign for the Khalistan cause.

The latest warning also comes against the backdrop of the US prosecution involving an alleged assassination plot against Pannun in 2023. US prosecutors have accused an Indian national of involvement in a conspiracy to arrange Pannun’s killing in New York. The case has attracted significant attention because of its implications for relations between India and the United States, with Indian authorities previously saying they were investigating the allegations.

Pannun’s latest disclosure indicates that US and Canadian authorities remain concerned about potential threats against him. However, details about the alleged new threat, including who may be behind it, when it was identified and what specific evidence prompted the warning, have not been publicly disclosed in the information available. Authorities are expected to maintain security measures around Pannun while the reported threat is assessed and the earlier US criminal case proceeds.

Also Read: US Lawmaker Raises Concerns Over India's Proposed FCRA Amendment Bill