Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a designated terrorist and leader of the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), has a long history of issuing threats against Indian leaders, diplomats, and institutions. His latest threat, targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath with violence during the 2025 Mahakumbh Mela, follows a pattern of intimidation tactics aimed at inciting separatism in Punjab.
On 24 December 2024, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a separatist terrorist from Punjab, released a video threatening Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. In the video, Pannun declared, “I will seek revenge for the encounter of three Punjab separatist terrorists in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh.” He stated that the revenge would take place on 14 January, 29 January, and 3 February 2025, during the Mahakumbh 2025.
Let us examine 34 previous instances of similar empty threats made by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun against India, its leaders, and those who support the nation’s sovereignty.
#1 – Threats To PM Modi & UP CM Yogi Adityanath – December 2024
On 24 December 2024, Punjab separatist terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun released a threatening video directed at PM Narendra Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. In the video, Pannun vowed to seek revenge during the 2025 Kumbh Mela for the killing of three Punjab separatist terrorists in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, accusing the encounter of being “fake.” He also offered a reward of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the deceased. Pannun declared that the revenge would occur on January 14, January 29, and February 3, during the Mahakumbh. Pilibhit police have filed a case and launched legal proceedings in response to the threats aimed at disrupting the upcoming Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj.
#2 – Threat To Ambassador Kwatra – December 2024
On 13 December 2024, Pannun issued a threat against India’s Ambassador to Washington, Vinay Kwatra, claiming that Kwatra was a target of pro-Punjab separatist Sikhs in America. In a video, Pannun accused Kwatra of collaborating with Russian agencies to suppress Punjab separatist supporters, alleging that India had formed an alliance with Russia to curb the movement. This statement came after pro-Punjab separatist groups had recently taken control of Russian consulates in New York and Toronto, while raising anti-India slogans.
#3 – Threat To Russian Missions – December 2024
On 14 December 2024, Pannun released a video threatening attacks on Russian missions around the world in retaliation for Russia’s support of India against the Punjab separatist movement. Pannun warned that Russian diplomats and consulates in North America, the EU, Australia, and New Zealand would be targeted if Russia continued its cooperation with India. In response, Russian media dismissed his threats, mocking his rhetoric and reaffirming their stance against Punjab separatist propaganda.
#4 – Threat To Conference – November 2024
On 28 November 2024, ahead of the All India Conference of DGPs/IGPs scheduled for 29 November 2024, in Bhubaneswar, Pannun released a video threatening to disrupt the event, calling it a “terror conference.” Pannun accused Prime Minister Modi, Amit Shah, and Ajit Doval of orchestrating violence against pro-Punjab separatist Sikhs, Kashmiri fighters, and Maoists. In response, Odisha Police increased security measures, with DGP YB Khurania assuring that foolproof arrangements were in place to ensure the smooth conduct of the three-day conference.
#5 – Threat To Event At Toronto Temple – November 2024
On 11 November 2024, the Brampton Triveni Mandir and Community Centre in Toronto canceled a consular camp that was planned with the Indian High Commission following a threat from Pannun. He had warned of targeting Indian diplomats and Hindu temples. The camp, which was scheduled for 17 November 2024, was intended to help Indian-origin retirees secure pension benefits.
#6 – Called For Shutdown Of CPRF Schools – October 2024
On 25 October 2024, Pannun called for the shutdown of CRPF schools set to open on 26 November 2024, accusing the force of committing atrocities. Pannun also offered a $1 million reward for information about Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s foreign trips. This statement followed a blast outside a CRPF school in Delhi’s Rohini area on 20 October 2024, which the Punjab Separatist Zindabad Force claimed. Pannun urged parents to boycott the schools, accusing the CRPF of involvement in past extrajudicial killings and actions during Operation Blue Star.
#7 – Threat To Blow Up Plane – October 2024
On 21 October 2024, Pannun issued a threat to international passengers traveling on Air India flights between November 1 and 19, 2024. Pannun cited the “40th anniversary of the Sikh genocide” and warned of a potential attack on Air India flights during this time.
#8 – Asked China To ‘Take Back’ Arunachal Pradesh
On 11 October 2024, Pannun who is also the general counsel of the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), issued a threat to India’s sovereignty with his campaign “SFJ 2024 ONE India To 2047 NONE India,” in response to Canadian Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison’s support for India’s territorial integrity. In a video, Pannun vowed to incite independence movements in Jammu & Kashmir, Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland, with the goal of “Balkanizing” India. He also claimed that Arunachal Pradesh belongs to China and called on President Xi Jinping to assert control over it.
#9 – Offered Reward For Information On Former Canada High Commissioner – October 2024
On 25 October 2024, Pannun issued a threat against Sanjay Verma, the former Indian High Commissioner to Canada. He branded him “wanted” and offered a five-lakh dollar reward for information on his whereabouts and travel.
#10 – Sent Bomb Threat To HP CM – August 2024
On 13 August 2024, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu received a bomb threat from the banned group Sikhs for Justice. The threat warned that if the Tricolor flag was hoisted on August 15, 2024, Indian attendees would be targeted with explosions. A similar threat was also made against Congress MLA Rakesh Kalia, who reported the call to the police.
#11 – Threat To Punjab CM Mann – August 2024
On 8 August 2024, terrorist Pannun issued a threat to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Pannun claimed that Punjabis are not part of India and therefore, Mann should not hoist the Tricolor on August 15. He further stated that anyone who prevents Mann from hoisting the flag would be rewarded with 1 crore rupees.
#12 – Threat To Kerala RS MP Shivadasan – July 2024
On 21 July 2024, Kerala’s Rajya Sabha MP V. Shivadasan received a threatening phone call while at IGI Airport with MP A. Rahim. The caller, claiming to be from Sikhs for Justice, warned of attacks on the Indian Parliament and the Red Fort. In a letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, Shivadasan disclosed that the call came at 11:30 PM and was allegedly from a group linked to Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The caller urged MPs to stay home to avoid being involved in the Punjab separatist referendum. Shivdasan promptly informed Delhi Police, and an investigation was initiated.
#13 – Threat To Canada MP Chandra Arya – July 2024
On 25 July 2024, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun issued a threat to Hindus in Canada, urging them to return to India. In a video message, he specifically targeted Indian-origin Hindu Canadian MP Chandra Arya, calling on him and his supporters to leave Canada. Pannun’s statement followed an incident in which Punjab separatist extremists vandalized the Swaminarayan temple in Canada, an act that Arya had strongly condemned.
#14 – Threat to Air India Passengers – June 2024
On 18 June 2024, Pannun issued a threat against Air India, warning passengers not to fly on 23 June 2024. In a video message, he cited the 39th anniversary of the 1985 Air India bombing by Punjab separatist militants, which claimed 329 lives. Pannun also threatened Indian and Canadian diplomatic missions and vowed to continue advocating for Punjab’s independence. Additionally, he urged a boycott of Air India and Indian businesses. In response, the Indian government filed a formal protest with Canada over the actions of Punjab separatist extremists.
#15 – Threat To Canada Ambassador Sanjay Verma – March 2024
On 1 March 2024, Sikh for Justice (SFJ) issued a death threat against India’s Ambassador to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma. In an email, SFJ leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun accused India of being responsible for Nijjar’s death and stated that Sikh supporters in Surrey would have an opportunity to target the Indian diplomat.
#16 – Threats To Punjab CM & Police Officians – January 2024
On 16 January 2024, Pannun issued death threats against Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and senior Punjab Police officials, including Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav. Pannun called on gangsters to unite and target CM Mann, linking the threats to the Punjab government’s ongoing crackdown on criminal activities.
#17 – Threat To India-England Test Match – February 2024
On 21 February 2024, Pannun issued a threat to disrupt the fourth Test match between India and England, scheduled to begin on 23 February 2024 at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi. In response, the Jharkhand Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Pannun, who is based in the United States. Pannun shared a video on social media calling on the banned Indian Communist Party (Maoist) to interfere with the match.
#18 – Threat To UP CM Yogi Adityanath – January 2024
On 19 January 2024, Pannun issued a death threat against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. In an audio message, Pannun warned that the Chief Minister would be targeted if he attended the Ram Mandir ceremony in Ayodhya. He further suggested the possibility of political assassinations if deemed necessary. Following the threat, Uttar Pradesh Police detained three suspicious individuals in Ayodhya as a precautionary measure.
#19 – Threat To Indo-Americans, CoHNA, American Hindu Orgs – September 2024
On 22 September 2024, Pannun issued threats against American Hindu organizations, particularly the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), and American Hindus. In a video message, Pannun specifically targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s event in New York, criticizing Indian-American Hindus for their support of Modi and accusing them of betraying American interests. He also challenged Modi’s political career during the address.
#20 – Threat to Punjab BJP Candidates Ravneet Bittu & Hans Raj Hans – May 2024
In May 2024, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun released a video threatening Punjab BJP candidates Ravneet Bittu and Hans Raj Hans. Pannun also urged Punjab’s farmers to obstruct Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s convoy during his visit, calling on them to block roads and airports to disrupt his movements.
#21 – Threat To Attack Parliament – December 2023
On 7 December 2023, Pannun issued a threat to attack the Indian Parliament on 13 December 2023. He referenced the 2001 attack involving Afzal Guru and accused Indian agencies of orchestrating a plot against him. In a video message, Pannun displayed a poster of Afzal Guru with the caption, “Delhi will become Pakistan.”
#22 – Threat To Blow Up Flights – November 2023
On 4 November 2023, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun released a video warning against traveling on Air India flights scheduled for 19 November. He threatened to disrupt operations and shut down Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, urging the Sikh community to avoid Air India due to alleged life-threatening risks. The date coincides with the Cricket World Cup final. Pannun also declared his intent to rename the airport after Beant Singh and Satwant Singh, who were involved in the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
#23 – Threat To Indian Embassy In Ramallah – October 2023
On 13 October 2023, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun released a video threatening India and expressing support for Hamas. He accused Prime Minister Modi and Hindus of celebrating deaths in Gaza and called for the closure of the Indian Embassy in Ramallah on October 21. Pannun also demanded the recall of Renu Yadav, India’s first female diplomat to Palestine, labeling her as an “Indian terrorist face.”
#24 – Threat To World Cup – October 2023
On 28 September 2023, Pannun issued threats against the upcoming Cricket World Cup, set to begin on 5 October 2023, at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. In recorded calls made using a UK number, Pannun referred to the event as the “TerrorWorldCup.” In response, Indian authorities took decisive action against Punjab Separatist elements, including the seizure of Pannun’s properties in Amritsar and Chandigarh, which were scheduled for auction.
#25 – Threat To Rahul Gandhi Against Bringing Bharat Jodo Yatra To Punjab – January 2023
On 4 January 2023, slogans from Punjab Separatists were discovered on the walls of SSP Upinderjit Singh Ghumman’s office in Sri Muktsar Sahib, Punjab. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun took responsibility for the act and issued a warning to Rahul Gandhi, advising against bringing the Bharat Jodo Yatra to Punjab. In a video, Pannun referenced the assassinations of Indira and Rajiv Gandhi, stating that Punjab Separatist supporters would prevent Rahul Gandhi from entering Punjab on 11 January 2023. Authorities quickly erased the slogans and are reviewing CCTV footage in an effort to identify and arrest those responsible.
#26 – Threat To MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan – December 2023
On 23 December 2022, Pannun posted a video urging individuals to throw a shoe at Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, offering a $25,000 reward for doing so. Pannun also condemned the arrest of Prabhjot Singh, a Jabalpur resident, who was detained for displaying a photo of Bhindranwale and playing pro-Punjab Separatist songs during a Sikh procession on 18 December 2022.
#27 – Threat to Punjabi Singers Who Don’t Support “Punjab Separatist Movement” – May 2022
On 29 May 2022, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun sent a threatening letter to Punjabi singers, urging them to support the “Punjab Separatist Movement.” He warned that failure to comply could result in consequences similar to the killing of singer Moose Wala. Pannun referenced Moose Wala’s murder and called for immediate backing of the Punjab Separatist referendum.
#28 – Threat To HP CM & Police Chief – May 2022
On 13 May 2022, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun issued an audio threat targeting Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and Police Chief Sanjay Kundu. In the message, Pannun offered a $25,000 reward for information about the Chief Minister’s foreign travels. The threat followed the arrest of Harvinder Singh from Morinda, Punjab, for placing Punjab Separatist flags at the Tapo Van assembly gate, an action that disappointed Pannun.
#29 – Threat To HP CM – May 2022
On 12 May 2022, after Punjab Separatist flags were hoisted at Dharamshala’s Vidhan Bhavan, terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun issued a threat to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. Pannun warned that any action taken in response to the incident could result in an attack on the Shimla Police Headquarters, similar to the RPG attack in Mohali.
#30 – Threat To NIA & MEA – December 2021
On 31 December 2021, following the NIA’s registration of a case against Jaswinder Singh Multani, a member of the banned Punjab Separatist group SFJ, for his involvement in the Ludhiana blast, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of SFJ, issued threats to the NIA and the Ministry of External Affairs. Pannun cautioned against pressuring suspects, including Sukhvinder Singh ‘Boxer’ and Ranjit ‘Cheetah,’ into confessing ties to SFJ, alleging human rights violations. He further warned that any attempt to arrest his associates abroad would lead to reciprocal arrests.
#31 – Threat To Journalists From Dharamshala, Una In HP – August 2021
On 30 August 2021, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun made threatening phone calls to multiple journalists from Dharamshala and Una in Himachal Pradesh. The journalists promptly reported the threats to the police, who took the matter seriously and launched an investigation into the incident.
#32 – Threat To UP CM Yogi Adityanath – August 2021
On 8 August 2021, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun issued a phone threat to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, warning him against hoisting the national flag on Independence Day. Pannun had previously made similar threats to the Chief Ministers and Governors of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab. In response, the governments of Himachal and Haryana filed FIRs against SFJ and Pannun.
#33 – Threat To Central Government – July 2020
On 1 July 2020, after the Ministry of Home Affairs designated Gurpatwant Singh Pannun as a terrorist, he released an audio message threatening the central government. In the message, Pannun announced that the Punjab Separatist flag would be raised at the Red Fort on August 15, 2020.
#34 – Threat To Canada PM Justin Trudeau – July 2020
On 26 July 2020, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun issued a direct threat to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in response to the Canadian government’s refusal to recognize Referendum 2020. Pannun expressed frustration with the government’s stance and boldly challenged Canada, stating that their campaign would continue from cyberspace and across gurdwaras in Canada. He dared the Canadian government to try to stop it if they had the strength.
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