Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is a Canadian-American lawyer and a socio-religious activist who is one of the main leaders of the Khalistan movement.[1][2][3] He is also the legal advisor and spokesperson for Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), which aims to promote the creation of Khalistan as a separate Sikh state.[4]
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun | |
|---|---|
| Born | Khankot village, Amritsar, Punjab, India. |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Organization | Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) |
| Known for | Promoting the Khalistan movement |
Designated as a terrorist by the government of India in 2020, in 2023 he was the subject of an attempted assassination, believed to be linked to India by the United States.[5][6] He has denied the accusations and says he is persecuted for his separatist beliefs.[2][3]
Early life and background
Pannun was born and brought up in Khankot village at the outskirts of Amritsar, Punjab, India.[7][8] He moved to the United States in 1992.[9] As of 2023, he described himself as a dual citizen of the United States and Canada.[2]
Activities
Pannun has campaigned for a separate Sikh state called Khalistan, organizing events and rallies around the world, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. He has also been involved in filing lawsuits against Indian officials and institutions in international courts, alleging human rights violations against Sikhs.[10][11][12] He has said that the Modi government wants him dead and that Indian politicians have threatened him and other Sikh separatists in parliament.[9][5] The Washington Post has described some of these potential threats as credible.[13]
According to the BBC, Pannun has released hundreds of videos censuring India and offering monetary rewards to people who write anti-India graffiti or hoist Khalistan flags on government buildings, or desecrate the Indian flag. In September 2023, he was recorded calling for the "political death" of Prime Minister Modi and two of his ministers. Pannun has also claimed responsibility for posters which read "kill India" along with the names and pictures of Indian diplomats. He has denied that the posters incite violence against the diplomats.[14][15]
In September 2023, a video surfaced in which Pannun warned Indo-Canadian Hindus to leave Canada, further accusing them of having "repudiated their allegiance to Canada".[16][17][18] The video elicited widespread condemnation from Canadian politicians. Federal party leaders, Pierre Poilievre and Jagmeet Singh, along with ministers in the federal cabinet, denounced the video. Canada's Public Safety Minister, Dominic LeBlanc, described the video as "offensive and hateful".[19]
In November 2023, Pannun warned of danger to individuals planning to travel by Air India on 19 November (the date of the 2023 Cricket World Cup finals).[20][21] Shortly after, Canada's Transport Minister, Pablo Rodriguez and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) announced an investigation into the incident. Spokesperson Kristin Kelly stated that the RCMP was collaborating with domestic and international partners and "industry stakeholders" in an investigation into "the threat against Air India flights."[22] Pannun stated that his message was about boycotting, not bombing Air India.[2]
Assassination attempt
In November 2023, the Financial Times (FT) reported that United States authorities had thwarted a plot to kill Pannun in the United States, and that federal prosecutors had filed a sealed indictment against a suspect in a New York district court.[23][24] The FT also reported that the US had issued a diplomatic warning to India over concerns that the Government of India was involved in the plot.[23] The report came two months after Canada accused Indian agents of being involved in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.[24] A White House spokesperson confirmed the US had informed India about the incident sometime after the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US in June 2023. The Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated that the Indian authorities were examining the US inputs.[2] In October 2024, a former Indian intelligence official was charged by the US with the attempted murder of Pannun.[25][26]
Legal issues
In 2020, Pannun was designated as a terrorist by the Government of India and his agricultural land was attached under Section 51A of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act,[27][5][28] though he has rejected this charge[6][15][3] In October 2022, Interpol rejected India's second request to issue a Red Corner Notice on terror charges against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, on the grounds of insufficient information.[29][30] International criminal law and human rights lawyer Richard Rogers, who represents Pannun, has accused India of falsifying evidence through the Interpol red-notice system.[31]
References
- ^ "NIA court issues Proclamation notice against SFJ's Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on Punjab Govt information". 13 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Jeff Mason; Shivam Patel (22 November 2023). "US thwarted plot to kill Sikh separatist in America". Reuters.
- ^ a b c Patel, Shivam (23 November 2023). "FACTBOX Who is Gurpatwant Pannun, target of foiled murder plot in US?". Reuters.
- ^ "Who are Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and the SFJ, whom India wants on Interpol's Red Notice?". 12 October 2022.
- ^ a b c "Gurpatwant Singh Pannun: The Sikh separatist at the centre of US murder plot allegation". BBC News. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Gurpatwant Singh Pannu: US charges ex-India agent in Sikh separatist murder plot". BBC News. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ Brar, Kamaldeep Singh (9 September 2020). "In Khankot village, few know of Pannu's ancestral roots". The Indian Express. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ "Who are Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and the SFJ, whom India wants on Interpol's Red Notice?". 12 October 2022.
- ^ a b Lucas, Ryan (27 October 2024). "Sikh separatist, targeted once for assassination, says India still trying to kill him". NPR. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ "Detailed info of terrorist Pannun and SFJ discussed".
- ^ "Who is Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and What is SFJ?". 12 May 2022.
- ^ "Gurpatwant Pannu wanted in 22 cases but Interpol won't act : The Tribune India".
- ^ Miller, Greg (29 April 2024). "An assassination plot on American soil reveals a darker side of Modi's India". The Washington Post. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ "Gurpatwant Singh Pannun: The Sikh separatist at the centre of US murder plot allegation". 21 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
- ^ a b "An Exclusive Q&A With Gurpatwant Singh Pannun". TIME. 27 November 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ "Khalistani leader Pannun threatens Indo-Canadian Hindus, asks them to leave". The Statesman. 20 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
- ^ Bhaumik, Anirban (20 September 2023). "Khalistanis threaten Indo-Canadian Hindus, plan huge protest to shut down India's missions in Canada". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ "'Go to India': Khalistani terrorist threatens Indo-Canadian Hindus in new video". India Today. 20 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ "Officials, politicians denounce 'hateful' video telling Indian Hindus to leave Canada". CBC. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- ^ Rai, Arpan (5 November 2023). "Tensions strike India and Canada once again as separatist leader warns of threat to Air India flights". www.aol.com. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ "Don't travel by Air India on Nov 19 or...: Khalistani terrorist in threat video". India Today. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ^ "Transport minister, RCMP say Canada is investigating 'threats' against Air India". CBC.
- ^ a b Sevastopulo, Demetri (22 November 2023). "US thwarted plot to kill Sikh separatist on American soil". Financial Times. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
- ^ a b Lucas, Ryan (27 October 2024). "Sikh separatist, targeted once for assassination, says India still trying to kill him". NPR. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
- ^ Ellis-Petersen, Hannah (17 October 2024). "US charges former Indian spy allegedly linked to foiled murder plot". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
- ^ Shamim, Sarah. "Who is Vikash Yadav, Indian agent accused by US in Sikh assassination plot?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
- ^ "Government of India Gazette on Individual Terrorists under UAPA" (PDF).
- ^ "Gurpatwant Singh Pannun: Narendra Modi breaks silence on US murder plot allegation". BBC News. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ "Why Interpol Refused India's Request For Notice Against Khalistani Leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun". 12 October 2022.
- ^ "Interpol Sent Back India's Request For Notice Against Khalistan Separatist".
- ^ "Indian intelligence officials targeted in New York lawsuit for alleged role in assassination plots". The Globe and Mail. 17 September 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.