Khalistanis Behind Vandalism Of Gandhi Statue In London, Pannun Aide Executed Attack: Intel Sources

Last Updated:September 30, 2025, 18:50 IST

Sources said the attack was deliberately executed before October 2 – the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi – by UK-based Babbar Khalsa International leader Paramjit Singh Pamma

The plinth of the iconic statue, which depicts the Father of the Nation in a seated meditative pose, was discovered daubed with some disturbing graffiti. (Image: X/@SuperPACman_)

The attack on the Mahatma Gandhi statue in London’s Tavistock Square was carried out by Khalistanis, top intelligence sources told News18.

According to the intelligence sources, the attack was deliberately executed before October 2 – the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi – by UK-based Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) leader Paramjit Singh Pamma, who is a close aide of Khalistani activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

The plinth of the iconic statue, which depicts the Father of the Nation in a seated meditative pose, was discovered daubed with some disturbing graffiti. The bronze statue, created with the backing of the India League, was unveiled in 1968 as a nod to Mahatma Gandhi’s days as a law student at the nearby University College London. An inscription on the plinth reads: ‘Mahatma Gandhi, 1869-1948’.

The sources said this strike is a psychological warfare tactic aimed at generating fear, provoking outrage, and projecting separatist relevance at a symbolic public location just before a day as significant to Indians as Gandhi Jayanti. Pannun and other groups are behind this as part of the international pro-Khalistan terror ecosystem, they said.

They said masterminds like Pannun and Pamma operate safely abroad. They outsource execution to radicalised youth and criminal gangs in India, they added.

The attack aligns with the ISI-backed proxy war strategy, which seeks to destabilise India internally through communal polarisation and targeted killings, the sources said. Pro-Khalistan networks increasingly rely on gangster-terror alliances like the (Davinder) Bambiha gang for logistics, arms smuggling, and manpower, so as to transform the movement from ideological to a more criminal-terror hybrid, they said.

By targeting cultural-historic spaces, the sources said, these Khalistani elements aim to undermine Indian legacy and create disillusionment among Sikhs through propaganda of persecution. International safe havens in the UK, Canada, and parts of Europe provide protection, funding channels, and operational freedom for Khalistani masterminds like Pamma, they added.

This is not the first time Khalistani elements have caused security issues in London. Earlier this year, in March, pro-Khalistan protesters staged a demonstration during External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar’s visit to the UK near Chatham House.

Following the protests, India strongly condemned the “provocative activities” of separatists and extremists after it saw footage of a breach of security during Jaishankar’s visit.

‘VIOLENT ATTACK ON IDEA OF NON-VIOLENCE’

The Indian High Commission in London strongly condemned the vandalism of the Mahatma Gandhi statue, saying it was a “violent attack on the idea of non-violence”.

The High Commission of India (HCI) said it is deeply saddened by the “shameful act of vandalism” and has taken it up with the local authorities for “immediate action”.

“@HCI_London is deeply saddened and strongly condemns the shameful act of vandalism of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Tavistock Square in London. This is not just vandalism, but a violent attack on the idea of nonviolence, three days before the international day of nonviolence, and on the legacy of the Mahatma,” the HCI said in a post on X.

It added: “@HCI_London has taken this up strongly with local authorities for immediate action, and our team is already on site, coordinating with authorities to restore the statue to its original dignity.”

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Manoj Gupta

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

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