Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent Canadian pro-Khalistani separatist leader, has filed a lawsuit against the Indian government, National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval, and others. The civil suit, filed in a US federal court, accuses India of orchestrating an assassination attempt on Pannun, which was reportedly foiled by US authorities in 2023. The legal action also links India to the assassination of pro-Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, further escalating tensions between India and pro-Khalistan groups abroad.
Allegations of Assassination Plot
According to a report by CBC News, Pannun, who serves as the general counsel for the pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), claims in his lawsuit that India was involved in an alleged murder-for-hire plot against him. The US authorities revealed that Indian national Nikhil Gupta was charged in November 2023 for his involvement in the foiled assassination attempt. Gupta allegedly hired a hitman to execute Pannun in New York, but the plot was uncovered when the would-be assassin turned out to be an undercover US agent.
Pannun’s lawyer, Matthew Borden, stated that the US authorities’ intervention prevented what could have been a deadly attack on his client. Borden alleged that the plot against Pannun was directly linked to the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which occurred earlier in June 2023.
Links to Nijjar’s Assassination
The lawsuit also accuses India of orchestrating the assassination of Nijjar, a pro-Khalistani terrorist who was shot dead outside a Sikh gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia. Nijjar was killed on June 18, 2023, in a brutal attack where he was reportedly shot 34 times at point-blank range. Four Indian nationals have since been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy in connection to Nijjar’s killing.
According to Pannun’s lawsuit, a video of Nijjar’s “bloody body” was sent to Gupta as a signal to continue with the planned attack on Pannun. Borden emphasized that had it not been for the involvement of undercover US agents, Pannun might have faced the same fate as Nijjar.
Diplomatic Fallout Between India and Canada
The assassination of Nijjar triggered a major diplomatic rift between India and Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly accused India of being involved in the killing, citing credible intelligence linking the Indian government to the assassination. India, however, vehemently denied these allegations, calling them “absurd” and politically motivated.
The Indian government has also rejected accusations regarding the assassination plot against Pannun. After being notified by US authorities about the plot, New Delhi launched its own inquiry into the matter. Despite the mounting tensions, no conclusive evidence has been presented in court to support these claims, and the Indian Embassy in Washington has not responded to CBC News’ request for comment.
Timing and Implications of the Lawsuit
Pannun’s lawsuit comes at a sensitive time, coinciding with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States for the Quad Summit. Pannun has stated that his legal action is meant to send a message to pro-Khalistani groups worldwide and to emphasize that no government, including India’s, is above the law.
“This is about the rule of law,” Pannun declared. “Holding Modi’s government accountable in a US court will establish the principle of justice and ensure that the rule of law is upheld.” The outcome of this lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for India’s diplomatic relations and its ongoing struggle with pro-Khalistan movements globally.
(With inputs from agencies)
