The death of Sikh activist Avtar Singh Khanda on 15 Jun 2023 in Birmingham has echoes of the poisoning of Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko, according to Michael Polak, the lawyer involved in both cases. Polak wrote to UK Home Secretary James Cleverly demanding a full investigation into Khanda’s sudden death. He said that Khanda may have been exposed to lethal radiation as part of an alleged operation to eliminate enemies of the Indian state. His official cause of death was said to be acute myeloid leukemia, a finding backed by West Midlands Police. Polak claims detectives did not conduct even the most basic inquiries into the case (SDW Vol. 1 Issue 4, Story 2). Meanwhile, the Czech Justice Ministry said on 18 Jan that the Prague appeals court ruled that Nikhil Gupta, accused in the Gurpatwant Singh Pannun assassination plot, can be extradited to the US. Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blazek will take the final decision. A Czech news site said Gupta argued his identity was mistaken (SDW Vol. 1 Issue 12, Story 1). In the US, the FBI issued a PSA on transnational intimidations in Panjabi, urging citizens to report threats or intimidations. In Panjab, Amritsar police registered a complaint against Pannun over his objectionable remark on Durgiana Temple, in which he claimed it has no historical significance. ‘The temple should be closed and keys should be handed over to Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) as Amritsar belongs to Guru Ramdas.’ SGPC member Bibi Kiranjot Kaur urged Sikh bodies to pay special attention to the case, lest the communal situation in Panjab deteriorates.
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