Sikhs for Justice threatens siege of Indian consulate in Vancouver, targets envoy

The US-based Khalistani organization Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has issued a public threat to “siege” the Indian Consulate in Vancouver on Sep 18. The announcement comes as India and Canada have recently resumed full diplomatic ties.

SFJ released a poster showing the new Indian High Commissioner to Canada, Dinish Patnaik, with a graphic target overlayed on his face. The group alleges that Indian consulates in Canada are operating a spy network and engaging in surveillance activity targeting supporters of the Khalistan Referendum campaign.

In its statement, SFJ referred to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023, recalling that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had told Parliament at that time that Indian agents were under investigation for his death. SFJ claims that despite those investigations, consulates continue espionage and intimidation on Canadian soil.

The group also stated that security for Indo-Canadians is at risk: it says that Inderjeet Singh Gosal, who took leadership of the Referendum campaign after Nijjar’s death, has had to be offered witness protection by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police owing to threats tied to his activism.

As of now, there has been no comment from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs nor the Indian Consulate in Vancouver responding to SFJ’s threat. Canadian authorities have not released any immediate confirmation of security measures.