Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun revealed on Tuesday that he has been alerted by the FBI and the RCMP about a credible new threat to his life. The warning, delivered by FBI agents on August 12, advised Pannun not to travel until the threat is resolved and to inform the agency beforehand if he decides to do so. In a separate phone call on the same day, the RCMP also informed Pannun about the threat, without disclosing specific details of the plot.

Under the “duty to warn” policy in the U.S., law enforcement agencies are mandated to notify individuals when they uncover credible threats of murder, severe bodily harm, or kidnapping against them. Pannun, who holds dual U.S. and Canadian citizenship, is the general counsel for Sikhs For Justice, an organization that has been orchestrating referendums across the Sikh diaspora advocating for an independent state named Khalistan. Recent reports indicate that Inderjeet Singh Gosal, appointed by Pannun to lead the movement in Canada following the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023, also received a threat warning from the RCMP.

Gupta, an Indian national, is currently awaiting sentencing in a Manhattan federal court after pleading guilty earlier this year to conspiracy charges related to a 2023 assassination plot against Pannun. The FBI stated that Gupta was instructed by an Indian government official to carry out the assassination, leading to his interaction with an undercover officer posing as a hitman. Gupta confessed to multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit murder for hire and money laundering conspiracy, with potential sentencing guidelines recommending a minimum of twenty years in prison.

Despite the persistent threats against him, Pannun remains resolute and determined in his activism, calling upon both the U.S. and Canadian governments to address the threats posed by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He expressed his unwavering commitment to his cause, stating that the threats only strengthen his resolve to continue his advocacy work, even in the face of danger.