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The secessionist group had claimed that Russia facilitated the assassination of Nijjar by providing “signals intelligence” to Pavan Kumar Rai, the RAW head in Canada, who has since been expelled by the Justin Trudeau government
Sikhs For Justice has accused Russia of aiding Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing by sharing “signal intelligence with Indian officials. (AFP)
A day after Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) accused Russia of facilitating the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, the latter took strong objection to the statement, saying SFJ’s call to “track” diplomats was “equal to planning a terror attack”.
On Wednesday, SFJ accused Russia of aiding Nijjar’s killing by sharing “signal intelligence” with Indian officials. The organisation also offered $25,000 to “track” Russian ambassador Vladimir Sevastyanovich Stepanov in Canada and Indian Ambassador Vinay Kwatra in the United States.
“We will raise the issue of SFJ with Global Affairs Canada and Royal Canadian Mounted Police. SFJ tracking of foreign mission chiefs is equal to planning a terror attack. We will ask for more security for our missions,” the Russian embassy said in a written statement, denying allegations of involvement in the murder plot.
“The world should take note of SFJ chief Gurpatwant Pannun tracking diplomats for terror activities. All hacking allegations are wrong,” they added.
Top intelligence sources told CNN-News18 that Pannun is trying to please local governments by associating India with anti-West countries like Russia.
“This is without evidence and proof. We have always maintained that Pannun is indulging in terror activities and tracking diplomats, which is very serious. Now, the world should take note of it and do the needful against him.”
The secessionist group had claimed that Russia facilitated the assassination of Nijjar by providing “signals intelligence” to Pavan Kumar Rai, the RAW head in Canada, who has since been expelled by the Justin Trudeau government.
The SFJ claimed that the Russian embassy in Ottawa hacked Nijjar’s Telegram account in May 2023 to facilitate India in tracking his movements, resulting in his assassination on June 18 at Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, Surrey. Simultaneously, they said, the Russian agency hacked Pannun’s Telegram account and shared location and movements with RAW officials in planning the since-foiled murder plot.
In December, US Security Firm iVerify, in its report, revealed that Pannun’s smartphone had been a target of sophisticated spyware which is tracking his location and daily movements.
Top intelligence sources said Pannun was speaking the language of Canada and US because of the ongoing diplomatic crisis.
“He is a global terrorist and soon, more will be shared with all the countries protecting him. He is trying to provoke youth in India born after 1984 to work against India and settle abroad so that he gets fees as an attorney,” they said.
