Mystery shrouds a fire reported at a house in Oakville, Canada, on Thursday night that caused extensive damage to multiple high-end sports cars and an estimated loss exceeding $500,000.The residents of the affected house, situated adjacent to the residence of the Khalistan terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and designated by India as a terrorist, were safely evacuated.
Paramedics provided medical assistance to two individuals near the property for smoke inhalation, as reported by local media.A few days ago Pannun had issued threats against Hindu groups in the US, specifically targeting a Sept 22 event at the Nassau Coliseum that is to feature prime minister Narendra Modi.
In a two-minute video, Pannun declared, “Narendra Modi is the target.”Pannun, a Canadian lawyer residing in Oakville, Toronto, who primarily practises in the US, and his house remained unscathed. Local authorities investigating the cause of the blaze are exploring all possible angles, including the possibility that the wrong house was targeted.In anticipation of PM Modi’s visit to the US, Pannun had announced plans to lobby the US govt to scrutinise, investigate, and prosecute every organisation and individual who participated in hosting and honouring Modi on US soil.
The home was across from the Canadian place of residence of Pannun, who lives in New York. “Once Canadian security officials investigate the cause of the fire only then it will become clear whether it was accidental or crime of arson and who was the target,” said Pannun.
“There is appropriate security covering my home around the clock and any attempts of violence will be forcefully responded by the Canadian law enforcement,” he added.
He was recently at the Oakville residence in August but the owners of the home that suffered from the fire had no connection to the separatist Khalistan movement.
In November last year, an indictment was unsealed by a Federal court in the United States alleging that an Indian national, Nik Gupta, was part of a thwarted plot to kill Pannun.
Gupta was subsequently extradited from Czechia to the United States where he is facing trial in the case.
India has established a high-level inquiry to probe the alleged murder plot.
Pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18 last year, was a close associate of Pannun’s and SFJ’s principal organiser of the so-called Khalistan referendum in Canada.
