The US Justice Department has accused an Indian government official of being behind a failed plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader, who is also a US citizen. The department has charged a 52-year-old Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, with orchestrating the attempted murder. Gupta is facing charges of murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, which could result in a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. According to federal prosecutors in Manhattan, Gupta worked with an Indian government employee responsible for security and intelligence. Gupta was arrested in June by Czech authorities and is awaiting extradition.
Although the prosecutors have not disclosed the names of the Indian government official or the target, it is believed that Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual citizen of the US and Canada, was the intended victim. Damian Williams, the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, stated that Gupta conspired from India to assassinate a US citizen who publicly advocates for a sovereign state for Sikhs.
You may also like to watch : Who Is Kamala Harris? Biography - Parents - Husband - Sister - Career - Indian - Jamaican Heritage
The Indian official, described as a “Senior Field Officer” responsible for “Security Management” and “Intelligence,” directed the plot from India, according to the indictment. US authorities revealed that Gupta was recruited by the official in May 2023 to orchestrate the assassination. Gupta, claiming involvement in drug and weapons trafficking, contacted a criminal associate for assistance in hiring a hitman. However, the associate turned out to be an undercover agent from the Drug Enforcement Administration.
US prosecutors stated that Gupta agreed to pay the undercover agent $100,000 to kill the Sikh separatist leader in New York City. An advance payment of $15,000 in cash was delivered to the undercover agent in Manhattan. Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, emphasized that the authorities will not tolerate efforts to assassinate US citizens on American soil and will vigorously investigate and prosecute those who seek to harm Americans.
While India’s Washington embassy and foreign ministry have not yet responded to requests for comment, the foreign ministry stated that New Delhi will formally investigate the concerns raised by the United States. India has established a high-level enquiry committee to investigate the allegations related to the conspiracy to kill the Sikh extremist on US soil. The External Affairs Ministry spokesman stated that India takes such inputs seriously as they impact national security interests, and relevant departments are examining the issue.
