Urgent Call to Recognise India as a Rogue State and Impose Sanctions for Human Rights Violations Against Sikh Activists

London, 16/10/2024 – In light of growing evidence of India’s transnational repression and violence against Sikh activists, we urge the British government and the international community to recognise India as a rogue state and impose sanctions against officials responsible for these actions.

Recent reports from Canada, the UK, and other nations expose a disturbing pattern of state-sponsored harassment, threats, and killings of Sikh activists, especially those advocating for Khalistan, an independent Punjabi state. Canada’s recent accusations against India for orchestrating the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar highlight India’s systematic effort to silence dissent. Evidence shows the involvement of India’s spy agency, RAW, and top government officials.

This campaign isn’t confined to Canada. In the UK, Sikh activists have also been targeted. The suspicious death of Avtar Singh Khanda, a Khalistani advocate, followed months of harassment and threats by Indian police. Despite official reports attributing his death to leukaemia, his family believes it was part of a broader intimidation effort, which included threats to his relatives in Punjab. Khanda’s death followed direct harassment from Indian officials, adding to other suspicious incidents linked to Indian operatives.

In 2016 while in Portugal, Bhai Paramjit Singh Pamma, a UK refugee, narrowly avoided extradition after India sought his arrest. Despite British police confirming Pamma was a victim of the Indian state and granting him indefinite leave to remain, the Indian government manipulated the Interpol system to have him arrested in Portugal. His human rights were abused, proving that Indian state terrorism extends beyond its borders.

India’s abuse of extradition mechanisms and pattern of extrajudicial killings, intimidation, and harassment amount to transnational repression—a violation of human rights and international norms. The Modi government's pursuit of Sikh dissidents, through covert and overt means, constitutes state terrorism.

We call on the British government, the EU, the UN, and democratic nations to:

1. Sanction Indian officials responsible for these actions.
2. Launch an international investigation into India’s transnational repression.
3. Increase protection for Sikh activists worldwide.
4. Suspend security cooperation with India until these violations are addressed.

The international community must hold India accountable. Ignoring these abuses undermines global justice and freedom of expression.

For further information or to arrange interviews, please contact: kesrileharuk@hotmail.com