Sikh separatist claims Indian 'spy network' operates in US and Canada
Canada and the United States must get tougher on Indian Premier Narendra Modi's government for trying to silence dissidents on foreign soil, a controversial Sikh separatist who was the target of an alleged India-led murder plot said in an interview.
The US Justice Department recently unsealed indictments against two Indian nationals, including a former government official accused of coordinating the plot against Pannun, a dual US-Canadian citizen, in New York. The former official is alleged to have worked as an intelligence officer orchestrating the assassination attempt.
In an interview with Reuters, Pannun claimed that Indian consulates in Canada and the US were operating a 'spy network' aimed at suppressing opposition figures, though he did not offer direct evidence. He called for both countries to respond decisively, saying they should 'close the consulates permanently' to prevent foreign influence on their territories.
While Pannun did not detail the alleged network’s operations, similar accusations have surfaced among Sikh activists in North America. Neither US, Canadian, nor Indian officials have responded publicly to these claims.
Concerns have heightened as both the US and Canada previously pointed to Indian involvement in assassination plots against Khalistan activists advocating for an independent Sikh state in India’s Punjab region. India has denied any involvement in these incidents.
India’s relationship with Canada has been particularly strained after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged Indian involvement in the 2023 murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan leader. In May, Canadian police arrested four Indian nationals in connection with Nijjar’s death; the case remains in progress.
India, which has called for evidence from Canada, recently engaged in tit-for-tat expulsions of six diplomats each from both nations. India has stated it is investigating the plot against Pannun, and US officials have pressed for a timely resolution.
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