THREAD
Live tweeting new findings on the suspicious death of Bhai Avtar Singh Khanda, UK activist believed to have been a victim of India's anti-Sikh transnational assassination program
Live tweeting new findings on the suspicious death of Bhai Avtar Singh Khanda, UK activist believed to have been a victim of India's anti-Sikh transnational assassination program
@GSJohal85 reveals despite paying for the visa for Khanda's family to come to the UK to be expedited the application was delayed for a month.
He also reveals the UK used Indian media articles (where press freedom is lower than Afghanistan's Taliban) to justify denying the visa.
He also reveals the UK used Indian media articles (where press freedom is lower than Afghanistan's Taliban) to justify denying the visa.
@GSJohal85 Shamsher Singh of @theNSYF highlights further context including the assassination Parmjit Singh Panjwar in Pakistan in May.
Brahmjot Kaur of Sikh Youth of America now details examples of India's transnational repression in the USA, "especially in California".
Brahmjot Kaur of Sikh Youth of America now details examples of India's transnational repression in the USA, "especially in California".
@GSJohal85 @theNSYF "The Sikh community here (USA) has said we will not even interact with anyone engaging with India's Consulate staff now we know what they are involved in...
"There are around 15 families being targeted in Punjab because of activism here (USA)"
"There are around 15 families being targeted in Punjab because of activism here (USA)"
@GSJohal85 @theNSYF "They are trying to gather intelligence on us through us, creating fear to make us turn on each other and speak with them, with Sikhs acting as middlemen for Indian intelligence"
"How do bills on transnational repression actually address NGOs acting for India in the USA"
"How do bills on transnational repression actually address NGOs acting for India in the USA"
@GSJohal85 @theNSYF Shamsher Singh @anandpur_exile highlights how legal advocacy regarding India's anti-Sikh transnational repression have helped bring these issues to light and help hold relevant parties responsible
Now Jas Singh of @SikhFedUK speaks about the complicity of UK institutions.
Now Jas Singh of @SikhFedUK speaks about the complicity of UK institutions.
@GSJohal85 @theNSYF @anandpur_exile @SikhFedUK "It was demanded by the family they wanted an autopsy and a senior coroner refused this request. That is very rare. They said they could only do so if the West Midlands Police said the death was suspicious, and WMP said they would view the death as suspicious if coroner agreed"
@GSJohal85 @theNSYF @anandpur_exile @SikhFedUK "The coroner and WMP put barriers in place to disrupt an independent autopsy which was requested by the family"
"In private discussion, lawyer Michael Polak said spoke with British intelligence officers who believed there was foul play in Khanda's death."
"In private discussion, lawyer Michael Polak said spoke with British intelligence officers who believed there was foul play in Khanda's death."
@GSJohal85 @theNSYF @anandpur_exile @SikhFedUK "Police did not interview his family, his friends, his colleagues, they didn't visit his home..."
Jas Singh advisor of @SikhFedUK highlights the lack of investigation into Khanda's death.
A private toxicology report is still being pursued. "We are exploring all avenues".
Jas Singh advisor of @SikhFedUK highlights the lack of investigation into Khanda's death.
A private toxicology report is still being pursued. "We are exploring all avenues".
@GSJohal85 @theNSYF @anandpur_exile @SikhFedUK Shamsher Singh explains how the father of Bhai Avtar Singh Khanda was an associate of Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale and the targeting of Khanda is something his family faced, from his late grandfather to his mother and sister
@GSJohal85 @theNSYF @anandpur_exile @SikhFedUK "The story of Bhai Avtar Singh Khanda is the story of the Sikh struggle"
@GSJohal85 @theNSYF @anandpur_exile @SikhFedUK "Ever since he was forced to leave Punjab, highly exaggerated and sensationalist claims were made about Bhai Avtar Singh Khanda since 2012 by Indian media"
"Khanda acted as a bridge between Punjab and the diaspora"
"Khanda acted as a bridge between Punjab and the diaspora"
@GSJohal85 @theNSYF @anandpur_exile @SikhFedUK Shamsher Singh highlights Khanda's relationships with popular Sikh activist figures Deep Singh Sidhu and Bhai Amritpal Singh, both of whom were leading grassroots Sikh sovereignty movements in Punjab.
Sidhu died in a suspicious car crash and Amritpal Singh has been imprisoned
Sidhu died in a suspicious car crash and Amritpal Singh has been imprisoned
@GSJohal85 @theNSYF @anandpur_exile @SikhFedUK "India has history of using poisons to assassinate Sikh freedom fighters"
"India's diplomatic relationship with the UK is very different to that with Canada and USA. Khanda was not a UK citizen so he was an easier target"
"A crime reference number was requested regarding...
"India's diplomatic relationship with the UK is very different to that with Canada and USA. Khanda was not a UK citizen so he was an easier target"
"A crime reference number was requested regarding...
@GSJohal85 @theNSYF @anandpur_exile @SikhFedUK "...Khanda's death given the circumstances but no such escalation was made. They said this was 'unnecessary'"
"The crime reference number was needed for an autopsy but then Wmp said this was not the case. They violated their own procedures but claimed 'a thorough investigation'"
"The crime reference number was needed for an autopsy but then Wmp said this was not the case. They violated their own procedures but claimed 'a thorough investigation'"
@GSJohal85 @theNSYF @anandpur_exile @SikhFedUK "The family was coerced into accepting his death was due to AML cancer to allow his funeral to go ahead"
"Standardised hospital testing does not have the capability to detect poisoning of the kind that would have been used here but an independent autopsy was denied"
"Standardised hospital testing does not have the capability to detect poisoning of the kind that would have been used here but an independent autopsy was denied"
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