Sikh activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun claims FBI has warned him of 'imminent threat' to his life

Sikh activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has asserted that the FBI has informed him of an imminent threat to his life. The FBI agents visited his New York City residence to inform him of this danger. This statement follows a non-binding referendum in Edmonton, Canada, slated for Oct 18, where participants will vote on whether Indian Punjab should be declared independent as "Khalistan."

Pannun, a dual American-Canadian citizen and general counsel of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), intends to travel to Canada for the event. He claims the FBI issued a "Duty to Warn" notification on Oct 15 specifically regarding his planned travel to Canada. Additionally, he has received warnings from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) about threats to his life and his residence in Ontario.

FBI agents informed Pannun that they are investigating leads and stated the threat is tied to his potential travel to Canada for the referendum, though they provided no further details. In February, Indian national Nikhil Gupta was convicted of plotting Pannun's assassination in New York, but the plan was foiled. SFJ claims other organizers in Canada have also received similar warnings.

The situation is complicated by Canada's attempt to strengthen ties with India through a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, amid concerns about how this aligns with security and law enforcement cooperation, particularly in light of continuing threats against Khalistan referendum activists.