Gurpatwant Singh Pannun may look like an ordinary lawyer and activist with the Sikhs For Justice movement. What makes the 56-year-old extraordinary is that he says he’s been living with a target on his back.

“I’m not surprised that they’re after me, they want to kill me,” he said.

What You Need To Know

  • Gurpatwant Singh Pannun may look like an ordinary lawyer and activist with the Sikhs For Justice movement, however what makes the 56-year-old extraordinary is that he says he’s been living with a target on his back for about four years

  • In November, the U.S. Department of Justice charged an Indian national on suspicion of trying to kill Pannun, according to an indictment which alleged a murder-for-hire plot

  • Court documents from the Southern District of New York allege that Indian national was recruited by an Indian government official to kill Pannun on U.S. soil. It’s an accusation the Indian government has denied

  • Pannun, a dual American-Canadian citizen, is a frequent critic of the Modi government and the way it treats members of the Sikh religion

The “they” he’s referring to—the Indian government. Pannun claims the Modi government has been after him for about four years.

In November, the U.S. Department of Justice charged an Indian national on suspicion of trying to kill Pannun, according to an indictment which alleged a murder-for-hire plot.

Court documents from the Southern District of New York allege that Indian national was recruited by an Indian government official to kill Pannun on U.S. soil. It’s an accusation the Indian government has denied.

“I am unphased, and undaunted,” Pannun said. “The death doesn’t scare us. We are in the home of the brave, and the land of the free. We don’t fear death in America.”

Prime Minister Modi has broken his silence on the murder plot allegation, and says he will “definitely look into” any evidence provided on possible ties or involvement by his government.

Pannun, a dual American-Canadian citizen, is a frequent critic of the Modi government and the way it treats members of the Sikh religion. The Indian government claims Pannun is a terrorist, an allegation he denies.

In his role as an activist and leader with Sikhs For Justice, Pannun has been campaigning for a separate Sikh homeland, which would be known as Khalistan, and would include Punjab, a state in Northern India.

Even with the alleged assassination attempt, Pannun, who’s been an activist for more than 15 years, says his fight will continue.

“This is more about the Sikh community at large in Punjab who are facing existential threat,” Pannun said. “And I’m not going to stop this campaign just because they tried to kill me, or they are going to kill me. Because even if they kill me, this movement for freedom is going to continue.”

The suspect was arrested in the Czech Republic on June 30 and is awaiting extradition to the U.S. Federal authorities have not said when he might be brought to the U.S. to face murder-for-hire and conspiracy charges.