British Authorities Warn Sikh Activist of Increased Security Threats from Hindu Nationalists
A prominent Sikh activist living in the UK has been advised by police to increase security measures at his home due to threats from Hindu nationalist elements, following intelligence suggesting that he is a target for intimidation and violence. Paramjeet Singh Pamma, 52, who is involved in the Khalistan movement - a campaign for an independent Sikh state outlawed in India - received verbal advice from police after being visited by officers.
The threats are believed to be linked to India's government, with Mr. Pamma accusing UK ministers of failing to take "relentless" transnational repression by India seriously. According to MI5, foreign governments are increasingly targeting dissidents on UK soil, and the number of investigations into state threats has grown by 48% since 2022.
The Indian government has long been concerned about the Khalistan movement, which is largely diaspora-led and campaigns for a Sikh homeland in north-west India. The movement's history is marred by violence, including the 1985 bombing of Air India flight 182, which killed all 329 people onboard - the worst act of aviation terrorism before the 9/11 attacks.
Mr. Pamma has been forced to live separately from his family due to threats and was recently visited by local and counter-terrorism police. He claimed that he regularly reported threats to the police but only began to take action seriously after the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Sikh activist in Canada, which intelligence agencies linked to Indian government agents.
The UK's decision to pursue a closer relationship with India, despite concerns from human rights groups and dissident communities, has raised eyebrows. In May last year, the UK agreed a trade deal with India, seen as a key partner to balance China's growing power.
Two Sikh nationalists have now come forward, claiming they have been advised by police to increase their security measures. A Birmingham-based Sikh activist, Avtar Singh Khanda, died suddenly in 2023 after complaining of harassment by Indian police and threats to his family in Punjab.
The UK government has faced criticism for not doing enough to protect its diverse communities from intimidation and violence. Paramjeet Singh Pamma feels that the authorities are "not doing enough" and calls on them to take action to ensure the safety of Sikh activists, citing cases such as those of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US and Avtar Singh Khanda in the UK.
The Indian government has denied allegations of repression and intimidation, but human rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns about the treatment of dissidents. The UK's decision to pursue a closer relationship with India remains a contentious issue, with many questioning whether it prioritizes economic interests over human rights and security concerns.
A prominent Sikh activist living in the UK has been advised by police to increase security measures at his home due to threats from Hindu nationalist elements, following intelligence suggesting that he is a target for intimidation and violence. Paramjeet Singh Pamma, 52, who is involved in the Khalistan movement - a campaign for an independent Sikh state outlawed in India - received verbal advice from police after being visited by officers.
The threats are believed to be linked to India's government, with Mr. Pamma accusing UK ministers of failing to take "relentless" transnational repression by India seriously. According to MI5, foreign governments are increasingly targeting dissidents on UK soil, and the number of investigations into state threats has grown by 48% since 2022.
The Indian government has long been concerned about the Khalistan movement, which is largely diaspora-led and campaigns for a Sikh homeland in north-west India. The movement's history is marred by violence, including the 1985 bombing of Air India flight 182, which killed all 329 people onboard - the worst act of aviation terrorism before the 9/11 attacks.
Mr. Pamma has been forced to live separately from his family due to threats and was recently visited by local and counter-terrorism police. He claimed that he regularly reported threats to the police but only began to take action seriously after the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Sikh activist in Canada, which intelligence agencies linked to Indian government agents.
The UK's decision to pursue a closer relationship with India, despite concerns from human rights groups and dissident communities, has raised eyebrows. In May last year, the UK agreed a trade deal with India, seen as a key partner to balance China's growing power.
Two Sikh nationalists have now come forward, claiming they have been advised by police to increase their security measures. A Birmingham-based Sikh activist, Avtar Singh Khanda, died suddenly in 2023 after complaining of harassment by Indian police and threats to his family in Punjab.
The UK government has faced criticism for not doing enough to protect its diverse communities from intimidation and violence. Paramjeet Singh Pamma feels that the authorities are "not doing enough" and calls on them to take action to ensure the safety of Sikh activists, citing cases such as those of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US and Avtar Singh Khanda in the UK.
The Indian government has denied allegations of repression and intimidation, but human rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns about the treatment of dissidents. The UK's decision to pursue a closer relationship with India remains a contentious issue, with many questioning whether it prioritizes economic interests over human rights and security concerns.
I'm worried about Paramjeet Singh Pamma & other Sikh activists living in the UK. Increased security threats from Hindu nationalists is a major concern 
. The authorities need to take concrete steps to ensure their safety, not just advise them to increase security measures 
. We need to acknowledge that dissidents like Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and Avtar Singh Khanda have been victimized by the Indian government's agents 
. The UK gov't needs to review its decision to pursue a closer relationship with India & consider human rights concerns 
. 
I mean, for real, if Sikh activists are speaking out against human rights issues, that's like, super important! 
And the fact that the authorities are taking notice and advising them to increase security measures is like, a sign of progress, right? 
Plus, it's awesome that there are people like Paramjeet Singh Pamma who are willing to speak out for what they believe in, even if it means facing threats. 
And let's not forget that the UK has a responsibility to protect its diverse communities, and this is just one example of how that's being taken seriously. 
I guess what I'm saying is, while this situation is definitely sad, we gotta focus on the good stuff too 
.
This is so worrying, especially for Sikh communities in the UK. The threats from Hindu nationalists are a big concern 
. I mean, we're talking about people who are already vulnerable due to their activism or identity, and then you add police advice to increase security measures? That's not exactly reassuring 
.
Is that really a good idea when there are human rights concerns at play? I think we need to be more careful about how our governments approach international relations, especially when it comes to sensitive issues like this. 
. That's not right, and I hope the authorities take action to ensure his safety and the safety of other Sikh activists too 
. The Indian government needs to explain what's going on and how they're addressing these concerns 
.
and yeah, the uk gov't's decision to pursue a closer relationship with india is just... 
i hope not, cuz that'd be pretty messed up 
police are supposed to keep us safe not threaten us from within their own ranks... i mean i get why paramjeet singh pamma and others like him have to be so careful but it's just not right that they're being targeted by hindu nationalists in the first place - like what even is the point of having a police force if we can't trust them to keep us safe? 
. I mean, come on, they're basically saying "hey India, go ahead and intimidate Sikh activists, we won't stop you" 
. Newsflash: being a target for violence doesn't make someone overly sensitive, it makes them human 
The Khalistan movement is just trying to advocate for something that's been rightfully theirs for centuries, but no, the UK government has to go and cozy up to India instead of standing up for its own citizens 
.
. We need real solutions, not just empty promises 
. The UK needs to take its human rights and security concerns seriously, not just sweep them under the rug 
.
. I remember when 9/11 happened, it was a turning point for international relations and security concerns, but now it seems like we're seeing similar threats towards Sikh activists in the UK... but this time, it's not even just terrorism - it's government-level intimidation 
. And what really gets me is that these Sikhs are just fighting for their right to exist as a community without any harm or persecution 
. I'm not saying the UK should boycott India or anything drastic like that, but we do need to be mindful of our relationship with them and make sure it's not at the expense of human rights and security concerns 
.
if u dont agree with their POV 
