Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent Canadian leader advocating for the creation of an independent Khalistan, has taken legal action against the Indian government. The civil lawsuit, filed in a US federal district court, accuses India of orchestrating an assassination attempt against him in 2023, an attempt that was thwarted by the US authorities.
The lawsuit, as reported by CBC News, also alleges India’s involvement in the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a known pro-Khalistani terrorist. Pannun claims that after Nijjar’s assassination in June 2023, Indian operatives targeted him for murder. He states that individuals hired to carry out the killing were apprehended by US authorities, and that one of them was an undercover agent who exposed the plot.
The lawsuit, filed by Pannun’s legal team, asserts that the individuals involved in Nijjar’s death shot him “at point blank range” 34 times and sent a video of his body to the alleged assassin of Pannun as a message to proceed with the plan. The court documents further allege that the would-be assassins were instructed to kill anyone present alongside Pannun. It’s important to note that the accused, Indian national Nikhil Gupta, has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The assassination of Nijjar has sparked a major diplomatic row between India and Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly declared that credible intelligence indicated the Indian government’s involvement in the killing. While India has denied any involvement in both the Nijjar and Pannun cases, the lawsuit adds fuel to the fire of this ongoing diplomatic dispute.
Pannun’s lawsuit seeks to hold the Indian government accountable for alleged criminal activities. He asserts that this action is a matter of upholding the rule of law and ensuring no government, including India’s, is above legal scrutiny. The lawsuit was filed shortly before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US for the Quad Summit.
