Amidst the escalating diplomatic tensions between India and Canada over the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have reportedly visited individuals associated with Khalistani elements in the United States to caution them about potential threats to their lives, as reported by The Intercept.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the leader of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), was fatally shot by two unidentified assailants outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, on June 18. This incident ignited a diplomatic feud between India and Canada, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggesting New Delhi’s involvement in the matter.
India swiftly rejected Canada’s allegations, labeling them as “absurd” and “motivated.” In response, India expelled a Canadian diplomat in a reciprocal move following Ottawa’s removal of an Indian official in connection with the case.
Pritpal Singh, a coordinator for the American Sikh Caucus Committee, disclosed to The Intercept that he, along with two other Sikh Americans residing in California, received visits and calls from FBI agents shortly after Nijjar’s assassination. Singh stated, “I was visited by two FBI special agents in late June who told me that they had received information that there was a threat against my life. They did not tell us specifically where the threat was coming from, but they said that I should be careful.”
The other two Sikh Americans, who chose to remain anonymous, corroborated Singh’s account, confirming that FBI agents had contacted them during the same timeframe. As of now, the federal agency has not officially commented on this development.
Prior to Nijjar’s killing in June, Canadian intelligence officials had also issued warnings to Khalistani elements, alerting them to potential threats to their lives. Moninder Singh, a spokesperson for the British Columbia Gurdwaras Council, revealed, “They told us that we were at imminent risk of assassination, but they would never say specifically that the threat was from Indian intelligence or give us enough information to tell us where it was coming from.” It was noteworthy that agents from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police had separately warned Nijjar about the risk to his life.
Sukhman Dhami, co-director of Ensaaf, a California-based NGO, affirmed the reports, stating, “We have also received messages that certain community leaders associated with the politics of Sikh self-determination have recently been visited by law enforcement and warned that they may be targets.”
Hardeep Singh Nijjar had been designated by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in July 2020, and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh for his capture. The NIA had also filed a chargesheet against the Khalistani terrorist in its court in Mohali.
In a related development, the NIA recently seized two properties and 45 kanals of agricultural land belonging to Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the US-based chief of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), in Chandigarh and Amritsar. Pannun is designated as a terrorist under Section 51A of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
News Summary:
- The FBI has reportedly warned Khalistani elements in the United States about potential threats to their lives following the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.
- Nijjar, the leader of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force, was assassinated in June, leading to a diplomatic dispute between India and Canada.
- India rejected allegations of involvement in Nijjar’s killing as “absurd” and expelled a Canadian diplomat in response.
- Sikh Americans in California, including Pritpal Singh, received visits and calls from FBI agents who conveyed information about potential threats.
- Canadian intelligence officials had previously warned Khalistani elements about threats, but the source of the threats remained unspecified.
- The NIA had designated Nijjar and announced a cash reward for his capture, while also filing a chargesheet against him.
- The NIA recently seized properties and agricultural land belonging to Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a designated terrorist associated with Sikhs for Justice