Professional-Khalistan separatist chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is making headlines as he sues the Indian authorities and a number of other senior intelligence officers, alleging they plotted two assassination makes an attempt towards him, the Instances Of India reported. This contains the latest killing of a outstanding chief of the Khalistan motion, Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. Pannun, who’s a twin citizen of the U.S. and Canada is a delegated terrorist in India.
Pannun, designated as a terrorist by India, is looking for damages from India’s Nationwide Safety Adviser Ajit Doval, former R&AW chief Samant Goel, R&AW officer Vikram Yadav, and Nikhil Gupta, accused of trying to homicide Pannun. Gupta is presently being held in a Brooklyn jail awaiting trial. In accordance with the Instances of India, Pannun’s lawsuit, filed in a New York federal district courtroom, claims the Indian authorities was concerned within the assassination plots. India has denied any involvement
Nijjar was gunned down exterior his gurdwara in Surrey, B.C., in June. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated in September 2023 that the assassination seems to have been ordered by India. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has charged 4 Indian nationals residing in Canada with Nijjar’s homicide.
One of many defendants in Pannun’s lawsuit is Nikhil Gupta, who’s presently held in a Brooklyn jail whereas awaiting trial for his alleged involvement in a murder-for-hire plot. The opposite officers—Vikram Yadav, Samant Goel, and Ajit Doval—stay in India and haven’t been charged. “Whereas this motion is barely indicting the foot troopers, this lawsuit is de facto towards the federal government of India,” Canada primarily based The Globe and Mail quoted Pannun as saying.
“They have been profitable in killing Mr. Nijjar. The identical would have occurred to Mr. Pannun if not for the truth that the particular person Mr. Gupta tried to rent was an undercover U.S. agent,” His lawyer, Matthew Borden, stated whereas chatting with the The Globe and Mail.
This lawsuit arrives simply days earlier than Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s go to to the USA. Though the Indian Excessive Fee in Ottawa declined to remark and the Indian embassy in Washington didn’t reply, Pannun clarified that Modi is just not named within the swimsuit due to his diplomatic immunity.
Pannun’s group is behind an unofficial world referendum for Khalistan’s independence from India. He intends for the lawsuit to carry the Indian authorities accountable for its alleged function within the assassination plots, though his attorneys acknowledge that pursuing justice via legal courts could show tough.
Pannun has confronted backlash prior to now for his inflammatory remarks, together with a warning to Sikhs to not fly on Air India, citing security considerations. This remark was tied to the 1985 Air India bombing, which killed 329 folks after taking off from Montreal.
