Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has claimed that the FBI and Canada’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have warned him of a potential threat to his life and advised him to avoid travelling until the threat subsides.
The development comes ahead of the sentencing of Indian national Nikhil Gupta, who is facing punishment in the US over an alleged plot to assassinate Pannun.
US, Canadian Agencies Warn Pannun
New York: US and Canadian law enforcement agencies have reportedly issued warnings concerning the safety of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Pannun claims that the FBI and the RCMP separately alerted him to a potential threat against his life.
According to Pannun, FBI officials met him last Thursday and advised him not to travel while the threat remained active. He was reportedly told that, if travel became necessary, he should inform the FBI of his plans in advance.
Pannun further claimed that the RCMP contacted him by telephone on Tuesday and also informed him of the alleged threat. However, there is currently no official information identifying the nature of the threat or any specific plot known to the US or Canadian authorities.
The FBI and RCMP were approached for comment but did not immediately respond. As a result, publicly available information about the alleged warnings remains limited.
Pannun, who holds dual US and Canadian citizenship, said he had been warned under the US ‘Duty to Warn’ provision. The mechanism is intended to alert potential victims when US authorities have credible and specific information indicating a threat of murder, serious physical harm or kidnapping.
However, no detailed official information has been released regarding the alleged threat or its source.
Warning Comes Ahead of Nikhil Gupta Sentencing
The warning comes as Indian national Nikhil Gupta awaits sentencing in the US in connection with an alleged plot to assassinate Pannun.
Gupta pleaded guilty in February to federal conspiracy charges and is scheduled to be sentenced on 20 November in a federal court in Manhattan.
US prosecutors allege that Gupta worked with others in 2023 as part of a plot to kill Pannun. According to US authorities, an individual linked to the Indian government allegedly directed Gupta in planning the assassination.
US officials further allege that, during the purported plot, Gupta unknowingly contacted a person who was working undercover with US law enforcement.
Gupta has pleaded guilty in a US court and could face a lengthy prison sentence under the applicable sentencing guidelines.
Who Is Gurpatwant Singh Pannun?
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is a prominent separatist figure associated with Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).
He advocates the creation of an independent Sikh state, known as ‘Khalistan’, separate from India.
The Indian government has designated Pannun as a terrorist, and multiple cases have been registered against him in India.
Pannun describes himself as an advocate for Sikh human rights and maintains that his campaign seeks equal rights for people of all religions in Punjab.
Despite the reported warnings, Pannun said he was neither intimidated nor deterred. He claimed that he would not abandon his campaign because of fears of being shot.
He also called on US President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to raise the alleged threats with the Indian government.
Pannun Refers to Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Pannun also referred to Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed in Canada in 2023.
Pannun claimed that Canadian law enforcement officials had also warned Nijjar under the ‘Duty to Warn’ mechanism.
Nijjar was shot dead in Surrey, British Columbia, on 18 June 2023. His killing triggered a major diplomatic dispute between India and Canada and significantly strained relations between the two countries.
