Sikh Americans on High Alert Following Alleged Assassination Plots

Indian Government Accused of Targeting Sikh Activists in U.S. and Canada

An alleged plot by an Indian official to assassinate a Sikh activist in New York City was foiled by the U.S. Department of Justice. The alleged assassin was detained and extradited by Czech authorities in June.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly accused the Indian Government of complicity in the murder of Sikh Canadian leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. The Indian Government has denied any involvement.
Sikh Americans have been on edge since the Indian government was accused of assassinating a prominent Sikh separatist in Canada. Their anxieties spiked after federal prosecutors in New York unsealed an indictment accusing an official in the Indian government of a different assassination plot in the U.S.
Sikh Americans are taking precautions, with some Sikh temples adding security cameras and hiring night patrols. Some Sikh American activists are considering using guns for self-defense.
Sikh Americans have a range of opinions on whether Sikhs should secede from India. Some believe that Punjab should remain under Indian government control but have greater autonomy, while a small minority believe that an independent Sikh homeland is necessary for Sikhs to flourish.