UK's Reluctant Response to Indian Nationalist Threats: Activists Fear for Lives
A prominent Sikh activist living in the UK has been told by police that his home should be equipped with security cameras and reinforced door locks due to threats from Hindu nationalist elements linked to the Indian government. Paramjeet Singh Pamma, 52, claims he has been receiving verbal advice on increasing his security since intelligence suggested that there were threats to his safety.
Pamma is a figure in the Khalistan movement, which campaigns for an independent Sikh state outlawed in India. The Indian government describes the movement as a terrorist threat and has long been concerned about its diaspora-led nature. Pamma's family was subjected to violence in India when he was younger, including being tortured by police.
Pamma has claimed that his life is under threat since moving to the UK, with incidents of intimidation including receiving threatening phone calls and visitors arriving at his home with guns during broad daylight. He has been regularly visited by local and counter-terrorism police but claims they have not taken action despite his repeated warnings about the threats.
The Indian embassy declined to comment on Pamma's situation. The UK government has stated that it takes all reports of intimidation seriously, but its response seems inadequate according to Pamma. "I always feel that [the UK government] is not doing enough," he said, referencing Canada and America's actions in similar cases.
In recent years, the number of investigations into state threats by foreign governments targeting dissidents on UK soil has grown by 48%. The joint committee on human rights listed India as a country of concern alongside China and Russia. The UK and India have strengthened ties under the current government, with the UK agreeing a trade deal with Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government in May last year.
Pamma is not the only Sikh activist to receive warnings about their safety. Avtar Singh Khanda, 54, died suddenly in March after complaining of harassment by Indian police. A pathologist found that the result of his postmortem did not rule out poisoning. Gurcharan Singh, another Sikh nationalist activist, has also been told that there are credible threats to his safety and was visited by officers nearly every two months.
The UK government seems reluctant to intervene in these cases, fearing it may be used as a political leverage. The high commission of India in London did not respond to a request for comment on the matter.
A prominent Sikh activist living in the UK has been told by police that his home should be equipped with security cameras and reinforced door locks due to threats from Hindu nationalist elements linked to the Indian government. Paramjeet Singh Pamma, 52, claims he has been receiving verbal advice on increasing his security since intelligence suggested that there were threats to his safety.
Pamma is a figure in the Khalistan movement, which campaigns for an independent Sikh state outlawed in India. The Indian government describes the movement as a terrorist threat and has long been concerned about its diaspora-led nature. Pamma's family was subjected to violence in India when he was younger, including being tortured by police.
Pamma has claimed that his life is under threat since moving to the UK, with incidents of intimidation including receiving threatening phone calls and visitors arriving at his home with guns during broad daylight. He has been regularly visited by local and counter-terrorism police but claims they have not taken action despite his repeated warnings about the threats.
The Indian embassy declined to comment on Pamma's situation. The UK government has stated that it takes all reports of intimidation seriously, but its response seems inadequate according to Pamma. "I always feel that [the UK government] is not doing enough," he said, referencing Canada and America's actions in similar cases.
In recent years, the number of investigations into state threats by foreign governments targeting dissidents on UK soil has grown by 48%. The joint committee on human rights listed India as a country of concern alongside China and Russia. The UK and India have strengthened ties under the current government, with the UK agreeing a trade deal with Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government in May last year.
Pamma is not the only Sikh activist to receive warnings about their safety. Avtar Singh Khanda, 54, died suddenly in March after complaining of harassment by Indian police. A pathologist found that the result of his postmortem did not rule out poisoning. Gurcharan Singh, another Sikh nationalist activist, has also been told that there are credible threats to his safety and was visited by officers nearly every two months.
The UK government seems reluctant to intervene in these cases, fearing it may be used as a political leverage. The high commission of India in London did not respond to a request for comment on the matter.
. I mean, Canada and America are taking action, but not us 
. It's not fair, you feel me? Pamma's been getting these threats since he moved here, and his family was tortured in India when he was younger 
. He deserves better protection than that 
. I'm all for strengthening ties with India, but at what cost? 
I'm so worried about these Sikh activists living in the UK. Paramjeet Singh Pamma's story is just unbelievable 
- threats, intimidation, and police visits without taking any action? It's like they're being ignored or something 
. The UK government needs to step up and protect its citizens' rights, especially when it comes to national security concerns 
.
And what's with the trade deal between the UK and India in May last year? Is that part of the problem? 
The more I think about it, the more uneasy I get 
.
. We need to stand together and demand some answers 
.
it's like the indian government is trying to recreate that same history here in the uk and its just not right 
another day, another scary story 
. so this guy Paramjeet Singh Pamma is just trying to live his life as a Sikh activist in the UK but noooo, his home needs security cameras and reinforced doors because of threats from Hindu nationalists linked to the Indian government 
. now he's getting death threats and people showing up at his house with guns 
during the day. it's like, hello UK gov, take this seriously 
. 48% more investigations into state threats by foreign governments targeting dissidents on UK soil? that's not good news 
. avtar singh khanda died suddenly after complaining of harassment by indian police 
. poor guy. gurcharan singh is next on the list 
. That's not even a drop in the bucket for someone who's been dealing with threats their whole life.
Don't they care that their own people are putting lives at risk just because of their politics? It's like, hello! Your citizens deserve some protection too!
.
.
The UK government should do more to protect people like him, especially since they did a trade deal with the Indian govt last year... it feels like they're kinda enabling this stuff. Canada and America are doing way better than us when it comes to dealing with threats on their soil.