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A Sikh separatist chief reportedly survived an “assassination try” on 11 August in Sacramento, California.
The truck through which Satinder Pal Singh Raju was travelling was allegedly “sprayed with bullets” on Interstate 505 close to Sacramento earlier this month. Mr Raju is the chief and organiser of Sikhs for Justice – an organisation that seeks a separate Sikh state or Khalistan.
Sikhs for Justice mentioned in an announcement {that a} automobile pulled up subsequent to Mr Raju’s automobile and opened hearth, inflicting the driving force of the truck to veer off the street. Mr Raju and two of his colleagues who had been travelling with him within the truck escaped the automobile and took cowl behind a haystack, the place they referred to as 911, in accordance with The Sacramento Bee.
The California freeway patrol confirmed that there was a capturing on Interstate 505 on 11 August at about 11.30pm and is investigating the incident. The Guardian reported that no arrests have been made to date, in accordance with the company’s spokesperson, Rodney Fitzhugh.
Mr Raju is reportedly related to Hardeep Singh Nijjar, one other Khalistan advocate who was allegedly assassinated in Canada final yr. Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau described what he referred to as credible allegations that India was related to the assassination of Nijjar in June. The Indian authorities denied any hand in Nijjar’s killing whereas additionally saying Canada was making an attempt to shift the main target from Khalistan activists there.
Sikhs for Justice steered that India, which has been linked to a number of plots towards Sikh leaders within the US and different nations, might be answerable for the assault in Northern California. They consider that the assault was a part of a broader effort by the Indian authorities to suppress the Khalistan independence motion globally.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, lawyer and spokesperson for Sikhs For Justice, mentioned in an announcement: “(Indian prime minister Narendra) Modi 3.0 Regime is continuous with its coverage of transnational repression to violently suppress the worldwide Khalistan Referendum marketing campaign in search of liberation of Punjab from Indian occupation.”
The Indian authorities has not but responded to Mr Pannun’s allegation.
In 2023, Mr Pannun was the goal of a thwarted assassination try within the US, which US officers attributed to the Indian authorities, although India denies any involvement.
Mr Pannun can be dealing with terrorism fees in India for his advocacy of an unbiased Sikh state.
Mr Raju has performed a major function in organising Khalistan referendum votes – a symbolic effort by some Sikhs worldwide to advocate for independence from India. He was concerned in votes held in San Francisco and Sacramento earlier this yr and in addition helped with a referendum in Calgary, Canada, in July.
“The American administration and the Canadian authorities, they haven’t held India accountable, and Modi feels emboldened,” Mr Pannun mentioned. “They’re utilizing their proxies to focus on leaders of the Khalistan referendum motion.”
Photographs from Sikhs for Justice revealed a minimum of 4 bullet holes within the driver’s facet window, marked with what gave the impression to be police proof tags. One bullet appeared to have lodged within the truck’s dashboard, whereas one other appeared to have exited by way of the windshield.
Mr Raju instructed The Los Angeles Occasions: “The day of our dying is already written. I’m blissful to outlive. However this received’t change the work that we do.”
He’s at present serving to Sikh activists organise a November referendum in New Zealand.
The Unbiased has reached out to the Indian Ministry of Exterior Affairs for remark.
