US authorities reportedly thwarted a plot to assassinate Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an American and Canadian citizen and the general counsel for Sikhs for Justice, a US-based group advocating for an independent Sikh state, Financial Times reported.
A warning was issued to the Indian government regarding potential involvement in the conspiracy, according to the report.
The specifics of whether the warning prompted the plotters to abandon their plan or if the FBI intervened to foil an ongoing scheme remain undisclosed. Following the murder of Canadian Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver in June, the US informed select allies about the plot. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau later claimed "credible allegations" linking New Delhi to Nijjar's killing.
Quoting one person familiar with the situation, the report claimed that the US protest occurred after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's high-profile state visit to Washington in June.
The report further claimed that federal prosecutors in the US have filed a sealed indictment against at least one alleged perpetrator of the plot in a New York district court, though the decision to unseal the indictment awaits the conclusion of Canada's investigation into Nijjar's murder.
The report claimed that the US justice department and FBI declined to comment on the ongoing situation, and the National Security Council emphasized not commenting on "ongoing law enforcement matters or private diplomatic discussions." The priority, they added, is the safety and security of US citizens.
Details of the Pannun case were shared with a broader group of allies after Trudeau's public disclosure, raising concerns among allies about a potential pattern of behaviour. India has dismissed Canada's claims regarding New Delhi's involvement in Nijjar's murder as "absurd."
Pannun, when contacted by FT, refrained from confirming whether US authorities had warned him about the plot, emphasizing that he would let the US government address threats to his life on American soil from Indian operatives. He underscored the challenge to America's sovereignty and expressed confidence in the Biden administration's ability to handle such challenges.
Pannun recently drew ire from Indian officials after issuing a video advising Sikhs not to fly on Air India due to perceived life-threatening risks. While he clarified that he wasn't making a violent threat against the airline, tensions persist.
While Washington urges India to cooperate with the Canadian investigation, it maintains a cautious stance in public statements, recognizing India's importance in countering China within the Quad security group. India, on its part, accuses countries like Canada and the UK of being too tolerant of Sikh separatists, whom it often labels as terrorists. During a September visit to Washington, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar criticized Ottawa's "very permissive" attitude towards Sikh separatists, attributing it to Canadian politics.
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