Indian Government Official Orchestrates Failed Plot to Kill Sikh Separatist Leader, US Citizen Gurpatwant Singh Pannun

Accident – Death – Obituary News : US Justice Department Accuses Indian Government Official of Plotting Assassination of Sikh Separatist Leader in the US

In a shocking revelation, the US Justice Department has alleged that an Indian government official was directly involved in a failed plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader who is also a US citizen. The department has further charged Nikhil Gupta, a 52-year-old Indian national, for orchestrating the attempted murder.

According to US Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Matthew G. Olsen, Nikhil Gupta now faces murder-for-hire charges, which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Additionally, he is charged with conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, which also carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The federal prosecutors in Manhattan have disclosed that Gupta collaborated with the Indian government employee, whose responsibilities included security and intelligence. Gupta was apprehended by Czech authorities in June and is currently awaiting extradition.

While the prosecutors have refrained from disclosing the names of the Indian government official and the target, it is believed that the intended victim was Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual citizen of the United States and Canada. The motive behind the assassination attempt is suspected to be Pannun’s public advocacy for the establishment of a sovereign state for Sikhs.

Damian Williams, the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, expressed his concerns in a statement, saying, “The defendant conspired from India to assassinate, right here in New York City, a US citizen of Indian origin who has publicly advocated for the establishment of a sovereign state for Sikhs.”

The Indian official, described as a “Senior Field Officer” in the related indictment, held key responsibilities in “Security Management” and “Intelligence” within the Indian government. The indictment further reveals that the official directed the plot from India.

According to US prosecutors, Gupta was recruited by the Indian official in May 2023 to orchestrate the assassination. Gupta allegedly informed the official of his past involvement in drug and weapons trafficking, which led to the official’s recruitment decision.

Following the official’s instructions, Gupta reached out to a criminal associate to seek assistance in hiring a hitman. Unbeknownst to Gupta, the associate was an undercover agent from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Prosecutors revealed that Gupta even claimed to have multiple targets apart from the Sikh separatist leader. However, the assassination attempt was foiled as the DEA agent was involved in the planning process.

US authorities have stated that Gupta agreed to pay the assassin a sum of USD 100,000 to carry out the murder of the Sikh separatist leader residing in New York City. The charges include an incident on June 9, 2023, when an associate of Gupta delivered USD 15,000 in cash as an advance payment for the murder to the undercover DEA agent in Manhattan.

Reacting to the developments, Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, issued a statement, saying, “The law enforcement partners neutralized this deadly and outrageous threat. We will not tolerate efforts to assassinate US citizens on US soil and stand ready to investigate, thwart, and prosecute anyone who seeks to harm and silence Americans here or abroad.”

While India’s Washington embassy and foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment, the foreign ministry has stated that New Delhi will formally investigate the concerns raised by the United States. In response to the allegations, India has constituted a high-level enquiry committee to probe the matter, specifically regarding the conspiracy to kill the Sikh extremist on American soil.

Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry, emphasized that India takes such inputs seriously as they are related to “our national security interests as well.” Bagchi also disclosed that relevant departments are currently examining the issue. To facilitate a comprehensive investigation, India established a high-level enquiry committee on November 18 to delve into all relevant aspects of the case.

As the details of this shocking plot unfold, it highlights the need for increased cooperation between nations in combating terrorism and ensuring the safety and security of individuals around the world..