FBI warns Khalistan leader Pannun of alleged imminent threat ahead of Edmonton referendum

A fresh warning from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has drawn attention FBI

EDMONTON / WASHINGTON / NEW DELHI:  A fresh warning from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has drawn attention to a controversial Khalistan referendum being held in Edmonton, Canada, amid renewed efforts by Ottawa and New Delhi to improve bilateral relations.

Pannun, the head of the pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), said FBI agents visited his New York residence on October 15 and warned him of an alleged imminent threat to his life, particularly in connection with his planned travel to Edmonton for the October 18 event.

According to Pannun, investigators are examining leads but have not disclosed the identities of those allegedly involved. The warning is reportedly the second such notification he has received in recent months.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has also issued warnings concerning threats against Pannun and other referendum organisers, according to SFJ. The group says the event will proceed despite the reported threats.

Referendum draws international attention

SFJ has organised a non-binding vote asking people of Punjabi origin in the Sikh diaspora whether Indian Punjab should become an independent country called Khalistan.

The organisation claims thousands of participants have travelled to Edmonton from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and several European countries. It describes the event as its 12th referendum of this kind and says more than 800,000 people have participated in previous votes worldwide.

However, the figures are claims made by SFJ and have not been independently verified. The referendum has no recognised legal authority to alter India’s territorial boundaries.

India has consistently opposed the campaign. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reportedly reiterated New Delhi’s opposition to anti-India activities on October 9.

Previous cases heighten security concerns

The latest warning comes against the backdrop of serious allegations involving violence against Sikh separatist figures.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistan activist, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023. Then Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau alleged that Indian government agents were involved in the killing, a charge India rejected. The dispute severely damaged diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Separately, US prosecutors alleged that Indian national Nikhil Gupta was involved in a plot to assassinate Pannun in New York at the direction of former Indian intelligence officer Vikash Yadav. Gupta pleaded guilty in February 2026, according to the supplied report, while Yadav remains wanted. The allegations have added to concerns surrounding the safety of Sikh separatist activists abroad.

India-Canada relations face a sensitive test

The Edmonton event comes as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi seek to rebuild ties following a prolonged diplomatic dispute.

The two leaders reportedly met on October 13 and agreed to advance discussions on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and security cooperation. Canada is also pursuing expanded trade relations with India.

Pannun has questioned whether closer security cooperation is compatible with the reported threats against referendum organisers on Canadian soil.

The event has also drawn comparisons with separatist debates in Alberta and Quebec, although the political and legal circumstances differ.

SFJ says it intends to publish the referendum results and use them to support its campaign for an independent Khalistan. India rejects the movement, while Canadian authorities must balance security concerns with applicable protections for political expression.

The FBI’s investigation into the reported threat remains ongoing, and the referendum’s claimed turnout and results have not been independently confirmed.