New Delhi: In the midst of the escalating diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, triggered by the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a startling development has come to light. According to a report by The Intercept, agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States have reached out to individuals associated with Khalistani elements and cautioned them about potential threats to their lives.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the leader of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), was fatally shot by unidentified assailants outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, on June 18. This incident has significantly strained diplomatic relations between India and Canada, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accusing New Delhi of involvement in Nijjar's killing. India promptly dismissed these allegations as "absurd" and "motivated," leading to a reciprocal expulsion of diplomats between the two nations.
Pritpal Singh, a coordinator for the American Sikh Caucus Committee, disclosed that he and two other Sikh Americans residing in California received visits and calls from FBI special agents shortly after Nijjar's assassination. Pritpal 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." Two other Sikh Americans, who chose to remain anonymous, confirmed similar visits by FBI agents during the same period. The FBI has yet to issue an official statement regarding these developments.
Prior to Nijjar's killing in June, Canadian intelligence officials had reportedly alerted individuals associated with Khalistani elements about 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." Notably, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police had singled out Nijjar, warning him about the risk to his life.
Sukhman Dhami, co-director of Ensaaf, a California-based NGO, corroborated these claims, 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." It is important to note that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in India designated Nijjar in July 2020, with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) offering a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information about him. The NIA had also filed a chargesheet against Nijjar under stringent anti-terrorism laws.
In a related development, the NIA has taken action against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a US-based chief of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), by confiscating two properties and 45 kanals of agricultural land in Chandigarh and Amritsar. Pannun, also designated as a terrorist under Section 51A of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), has faced legal actions by Indian authorities.