Sikh activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has claimed that the FBI warned him of “an imminent threat to my life”, only days before a non-binding Khalistan referendum in Edmonton, Canada.
Pannun told CBS News on Thursday that FBI agents visited his New York City home to deliver the warning. He said the bureau issued a “Duty to Warn” notification on October 15, linked to his planned travel to Canada for the October 18 vote.
The referendum, organised by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), will ask participants whether Indian Punjab should become an independent state called “Khalistan”, meaning “the land of the pure”. Pannun is a dual American-Canadian citizen and serves as SFJ’s general counsel. He plans to travel from the United States to attend the vote.
Pannun also said Canada’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police had warned him about threats to his life and his home in Ontario. He added that other referendum organisers in Canada had received similar warnings in recent months.
CBS News reported that FBI agents told Pannun they were investigating leads. The bureau said the threat was connected to his possible travel to Canada for the referendum, but shared no further details.
What the Pannun FBI warning follows
In February, Indian national Nikhil Gupta, 54, pleaded guilty in a US federal court to plotting Pannun’s assassination in New York. Gupta admitted to charges of murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
US prosecutors said Gupta acted at the direction of an Indian government employee, Vikash Yadav, who worked for India’s Cabinet Secretariat, the body that oversees the country’s foreign intelligence service, the RAW. The Justice Department said Yadav recruited Gupta in May 2023 to arrange the killing.
Gupta then contacted a man he believed to be a criminal associate. The man was in fact cooperating with US law enforcement and introduced Gupta to an undercover officer posing as a hitman.
Prosecutors said the conspirators agreed on a payment of $100,000 for the killing, with about $15,000 paid in advance. The plot was broken up before any attack could take place.
The fresh warnings land at a delicate moment. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are trying to rebuild ties through a proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and closer cooperation on security and law enforcement.
That renewed engagement follows years of tension over allegations of Indian involvement in threats against Sikh separatist activists in Canada and the United States. In June 2023, Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was assassinated in Surrey, British Columbia, a killing that badly strained relations between Ottawa and New Delhi. India has denied involvement in violence against Sikh activists abroad.
Pannun questioned Ottawa’s approach to the rapprochement. “How can Canada claim progress on security cooperation with India while assassination threats against Khalistan referendum activists continue on Canadian soil?” he asked.
The case sits inside a wider pattern of friction between New Delhi and its critics abroad. Pakistan told the UN that India backs Taliban and terror groups for attacks in the region, while inside India, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi were detained as voter-list protests entered a third day. Readers can also see our explainer on why India’s voter deletions have sparked nationwide protests. For Pakistanis watching Canada closely, here is how to apply for Canadian permanent residence through Express Entry.
What happens next
The Edmonton referendum goes ahead on October 18. It is non-binding and carries no legal force. Pannun says he still plans to travel to Canada for the vote. The FBI has not commented publicly on the warning.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Khalistan referendum?
A non-binding vote organised by Sikhs for Justice. Voters in Edmonton will be asked whether Indian Punjab should become an independent state called Khalistan. The result carries no legal force.
Who is Gurpatwant Singh Pannun?
A Sikh activist with dual American and Canadian citizenship. He serves as general counsel of Sikhs for Justice, the group organising the Khalistan referendums.
What is an FBI “Duty to Warn” notification?
It is a formal notice that US federal agents give to a person facing a credible threat, so they can take precautions. Pannun says he received one on October 15.
What was the 2023 plot against Pannun?
US prosecutors say Indian national Nikhil Gupta plotted to hire a hitman to kill Pannun in New York in 2023, at the direction of an Indian government employee. Gupta pleaded guilty in February 2026. The plot was foiled before any attack.
*Source: Dawn’s report on Pannun’s claim*
