UK Activist Threats: Police Warn Sikh Figure Over Hindu Nationalism Ties
A prominent Sikh activist living in the UK has been advised by police to step up security measures after receiving threats allegedly linked to Indian government officials, who view his campaign for an independent Sikh state as a terrorist organization.
Paramjeet Singh Pamma, 52, was visited by local and counter-terrorism police officers, who warned him of potential dangers due to intelligence suggesting that he was targeted. The activist has been vocal about the human rights abuses faced by Sikhs under the Indian government's regime.
Pamma's concerns come as the UK strengthens ties with India, a Hindu nationalist government that has accused Sikh nationalists like Pamma of being terrorists and separatists. In recent years, there have been reports of foreign governments targeting dissidents in the UK, leading to an increase in investigations into state threats.
The Indian embassy declined to comment on the matter. However, sources suggest that Pamma's campaign for a Sikh homeland, known as Khalistan, has been described as a "terrorist" organization by Indian officials.
Pamma's experiences echo those of other Sikh nationalists, who have faced intimidation and violence over their activism. Two such activists, Gurcharan Singh and Avtar Singh Khanda, have also reported receiving threats from police and intelligence agencies, although the UK government has yet to take decisive action.
The Indian government has a long history of cracking down on dissenting voices within the Sikh community, often using violence or intimidation. In 1985, Khalistani militants carried out a bombing that killed everyone on board Air India Flight 182, a crime attributed to the group by investigators.
Pamma's campaign for an independent Sikh state is largely driven by diaspora communities in the UK and has been linked to various extremist groups over the years. However, Pamma himself denies any involvement with these organizations and claims that his activism has led to threats against him and his family.
UK authorities have acknowledged the risks faced by Sikh nationalists but have yet to demonstrate decisive action against Indian government officials suspected of orchestrating these threats.
A prominent Sikh activist living in the UK has been advised by police to step up security measures after receiving threats allegedly linked to Indian government officials, who view his campaign for an independent Sikh state as a terrorist organization.
Paramjeet Singh Pamma, 52, was visited by local and counter-terrorism police officers, who warned him of potential dangers due to intelligence suggesting that he was targeted. The activist has been vocal about the human rights abuses faced by Sikhs under the Indian government's regime.
Pamma's concerns come as the UK strengthens ties with India, a Hindu nationalist government that has accused Sikh nationalists like Pamma of being terrorists and separatists. In recent years, there have been reports of foreign governments targeting dissidents in the UK, leading to an increase in investigations into state threats.
The Indian embassy declined to comment on the matter. However, sources suggest that Pamma's campaign for a Sikh homeland, known as Khalistan, has been described as a "terrorist" organization by Indian officials.
Pamma's experiences echo those of other Sikh nationalists, who have faced intimidation and violence over their activism. Two such activists, Gurcharan Singh and Avtar Singh Khanda, have also reported receiving threats from police and intelligence agencies, although the UK government has yet to take decisive action.
The Indian government has a long history of cracking down on dissenting voices within the Sikh community, often using violence or intimidation. In 1985, Khalistani militants carried out a bombing that killed everyone on board Air India Flight 182, a crime attributed to the group by investigators.
Pamma's campaign for an independent Sikh state is largely driven by diaspora communities in the UK and has been linked to various extremist groups over the years. However, Pamma himself denies any involvement with these organizations and claims that his activism has led to threats against him and his family.
UK authorities have acknowledged the risks faced by Sikh nationalists but have yet to demonstrate decisive action against Indian government officials suspected of orchestrating these threats.