‘Baseless’: Intel Sources Rubbish Report Hinting at India’s ‘Role’ in Foiled Bid to Kill Sikh Separatist in US

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Last Updated: November 22, 2023, 19:20 IST

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is an accused for the NIA, but it doesn’t mean we pick up a gun and kill people, said top intel sources. (File)

Top intel sources on Financial Times’ Report: “The story is baseless and nothing was shared with the Indian government. The Indian side is in regular touch with the US mission and counterparts in D.C…SFJ’s Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is an accused in a number of cases and we are following up through legitimate channels.” The foreign ministry and the U.S. embassy in New Delhi are yet to issue a statement

Top intelligence sources in India have rubbished as “baseless” the Financial Times’ report on November 22, which, citing unnamed sources, alleged that the US authorities had thwarted a plot to kill a Sikh separatist in their country and reportedly issued a warning to India over concerns that the government was involved. At the time of publishing this report, the foreign ministry and the U.S. embassy in New Delhi had not issued a statement.

ALSO READ | Rattled After NIA FIR, Terrorist Pannun Threatens to Picket Air India Flight from Toronto, Vancouver

The Financial Times said that the sources did not say if the protest to India resulted in the plot being abandoned by the plotters, or if it was foiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The protest to New Delhi was registered after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was welcomed on a state visit by President Joe Biden in June, the report said.

“The story is baseless and nothing was shared with the Indian government,” said sources. “Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, leader of a banned pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), is definitely an accused for the National Investigation Agency (NIA), but that doesn’t mean we pick up a gun and start killing people. We have our own system and set-up to probe and investigate cases and we go by that,” they said.

“Pannun is name as an accused in a number of cases and we are following up on his case through multiple channels. We have sent Letter Rogatories (LR) to a number of countries and are legitimately tracking the case,” sources said.

They added that the Western countries are “building pressure” and are “leaking such stories” ahead of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) team’s visit to India. “The Indian side is in regular touch with the US mission and counterparts in D.C. and no such thing ever came up,” said sources.

REMINDER OF CLAIMS OVER NIJJAR

The relations between India and Canada were hit after Canada PM Justin Trudeau alleged in his Parliament the involvement of a “foreign agent” in the killing of Khalistan separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He even claimed that he had intelligence inputs and evidence that the Indian government could be behind Nijjar’s death. These allegations, which New Delhi has strongly denied, resulted in tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats on both sides.

Nijjar was killed by unidentified gunmen outside a Gurdwara in Surrey, Canada, on June 18. He was the chief of banned Khalistan Tiger Force, and was designated a terrorist by the Indian government under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in 2020. Interpol had also issued red corner notice against him quite a few times, the first one being in 2016.

CNN-News18 has already reported that no actionable intelligence on NIjjar was shared by Canada on the case, despite the National Security Adviser’s (NSA) communication with his counterparts at least 20 times.

WHO IS PANNUN? WHAT INTEL SOURCES SAY

Pannun is a US citizen who is misusing his access in the UK and Canada. He is responsible for acts of terrorism in multiple countries. The evidence of money being transferred from the UK and Canada for killing of Hindu Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders has already been placed.

ALSO READ | Gurpatwant Singh Pannun’s SFJ Attacks Sikh Family in Canada for Picking up Indian Flag | Exclusive from Local Sources

CNN-News18 had earlier reported how Pannun is being funded by Pakistan’s ISI, citing top intelligence sources.

HIS RECENT ACTIVITIES

SFJ recently announced a reward of US $10,000 reward for Australian citizen Wen Johnson, who, wearing a pro-Palestine T-shirt, breached security during the India-Australia ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 final.
Earlier this month, Pannun offered cash reward for a “citizen’s arrest” of Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma. Announcing the ‘reward’, Pannun had accused Verma of falsely raising the bogey of terror threat to Air India to “divert attention” from the investigation into the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Members of the SFJ last week disturbed an Indian High Commission event organised by the Vancouver Consulate General in Abbotsford, Canada, even attacking a family for attempting to pick up an Indian flag fallen on the ground, said local sources.
ALSO READ | ‘Wen’ to Use: Pannun’s SFJ Announces US $10,000 Reward for ‘Pro-Palestine’ WC Final Pitch Invader | Exclusive
Pannun recently in a statement said that “Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has created more open conversations around India and its handling of the Khalistani independence movement”.
Earlier, in a video that surfaced on November 4, the Khalistani terrorist had said, “We are asking the Sikh people not to fly via Air India on November 19. There will be a global blockade. On November 19, don’t travel by Air India or your life will be in danger.”
CNN-News18 reported on November 22 how Pannun has openly threatened to picket an Air India flight from Vancouver and Toronto in a new video, in which, he is asking Sikhs to not travel by the airline.