Maninder Singh Gill, a leading critic of the pro-Khalistan movement in Canada, has been formally warned by law enforcement authorities that his life is under threat. Gill, the managing director of Radio India and president of the Friends of India-Canada Foundation, received official duty of warn notices from officers of the Surrey detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in both 2023 and 2024.
In a recent statement, Gill revealed, “They told me my life was in danger because I’m a controversial person in the community since I oppose the Khalistanis.” The first duty of warn notice was issued in April 2023, with the communication stating, “The police have determined by way of one or more investigative avenues that your life may be in peril. At this time, we are unable to provide you specific details of the threat.”
"Canadian police warn critic of pro-Khalistan movement on threats to his life
— कुशल मेहरा (@kushal_mehra) December 15, 2024
Maninder Singh Gill, managing director of Radio India, said he was told of threats by officers from the Surrey detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police"
https://t.co/bfCxPXebIJ
A second warning followed in April 2024, bearing the same language. During a meeting at his Surrey residence, Gill recounted that the officers delivering the notice attributed the threats to his outspoken stance against pro-Khalistan elements within the Canadian community. “The officers who came to deliver the warning said the threat emanated from my opposition to pro-Khalistan elements in Canada,” Gill added.
The ongoing threat has led to increased security measures at Gill’s home, including regular monitoring by police patrol vehicles and the installation of a panic button for immediate assistance. These precautions highlight the severity of the warnings issued by the RCMP.
The 2023 warning emerged less than two months after Gill organized an event in Surrey for Sanjay Kumar Verma, the then Indian High Commissioner to Ottawa. The event, held in February, was ultimately canceled due to perceived threats against Verma. This incident occurred months before Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement in the House of Commons on September 18, 2023, where he referenced “credible allegations” of a potential link between Indian agents and the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan figure, in Surrey three months earlier. While India labeled Nijjar a terrorist, these charges have not been tested in a Canadian court.
Gill also indicated that other individuals who oppose the Khalistan movement have received similar warnings from authorities, though they have chosen not to disclose this information publicly. “Similar warnings have been given to others who have taken an anti-Khalistan stand but they are unwilling to make those public,” he stated.
This situation underscores the ongoing tensions within Canada’s Sikh community and the broader implications of international political movements on domestic safety and community relations. As authorities continue to monitor potential threats, the safety of activists like Gill remains a pressing concern for both the community and law enforcement agencies.
