‘Matter of concern’: India reacts to US accusing Indian in foiled plot to kill Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun
US federal prosecutors have accused an Indian intelligence official of ‘recruiting’ a man to ‘orchestrate the assassination’ of Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York.
The alleged assassination plot allegedly involved an Indian 'official' and another Indian citizen (a businessman) and two individuals, a source and a hitman, who turned out to be 'undercover' US officers.
The allegations are in an indictment filed by the US Department of Justice in a federal court in Manhattan. The Indian official, according to the indictment, was working with a 52-year-old Indian citizen Nikhil Gupta, also known as Nick, who was arrested by Czech authorities on June 30 this year.
Gupta has been charged with murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. Each count carries a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison.
The indictment alleged that the official, who has not been named and is referred to as CC-1, is an Indian government agency employee who has described himself as a “Senior Field Officer” with responsibilities in “Security Management” and “Intelligence.”
He has also been referred to as previously serving in India’s Central Reserve Police Force and receiving “officer training” in “battle craft” and “weapons.”
India said on Thursday that it was a “matter of concern” and it is “contrary to Indian government’s policy”.
“As regards the case against an individual has been filed in the US court, allegedly linking him to an Indian official, this is a matter of concern…this is also contrary to government policy. The nexus between organized crime, trafficking, gunrunning and extremists at an international level is a serious issue for law enforcement, agencies and organisations to consider," Arindam Bagchi, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said.
He also said, "It is precisely for that reason that a high level inquiry committee has been constituted. We will obviously be guided by its results,” said Bagchi while responding to questions during a media briefing on Prime Minister’ Narendra Modi's visit to Dubai for the COP-28 summit.
The United States Department of Justice (DoJ) has charged an Indian national for his involvement in a plot to murder a US-based Khalistani leader, an official press release on Wednesday (November 29) stated. “Today in the Southern District of New York, a superseding indictment was unsealed alleging murder-for-hire charges against Indian national Nikhil Gupta, aka Nick, 52, in connection with his participation in a foiled plot to assassinate a US citizen in New York City,” the statement said.
According to the DoJ release, “Earlier this year, an Indian government employee, working together with others, including Gupta, in India and elsewhere, directed a plot to assassinate on US soil an attorney and political activist who is a US citizen of Indian origin residing in New York City.”
No comments:
Post a Comment