NEW DELHI: The United States on Friday said that it continues to expect accountability from India regarding the alleged involvement of an Indian government employee in an attempted assassination of a US citizen on American soil last summer, according to a US official.
“We continue to expect accountability from the Government of India, in relation to an alleged role of an Indian government employee in the failed attempt to assassinate a US citizen on US soil, that occurred by summer”, said state department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel during a news conference.
“We continue to raise our concerns directly with the Indian government at senior levels,” he added.
When asked about a news report claiming that Canadian authorities have arrested five Indian nationals who were allegedly planning to target a Sikh separatist at a wedding ceremony, Patel declined to comment, suggesting that it would be better to ask the Canadian government for information related to their law enforcement system.
“As it relates to the news that you mentioned out of Canada, I would refer you to the Canadian government to comment on issues that are happening within their law enforcement system,” he said.
US federal prosecutors charged Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, with collaborating with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York in November last year. Gupta, who was arrested in the Czech Republic, was later extradited to the US.
India has publicly said that a high-level inquiry is investigating the evidence shared by the US in the alleged plot to kill Pannun on American soil.
According to court documents, an Indian government employee (CC-1) allegedly worked with Gupta and others in India and elsewhere to orchestrate the assassination plot against Pannun, a US citizen of Indian origin who is an attorney and political activist. Gupta, who resides in India, is an associate of CC-1 and has described his involvement in international narcotics and weapons trafficking in his communications with CC-1 and others.
CC-1, who has described himself as a “senior field officer” with responsibilities in “security management” and “intelligence,” and has referenced previously serving in India’s Central Reserve Police Force and receiving “officer training” in “battle craft” and “weapons,” directed the assassination plot from India. Federal prosecutors allege that CC-1 recruited Gupta in May 2023 to orchestrate the assassination in the US.
Pannun is known for being a vocal critic of the Indian government and leads a US-based organisation that advocates for the secession of Punjab.
“We continue to expect accountability from the Government of India, in relation to an alleged role of an Indian government employee in the failed attempt to assassinate a US citizen on US soil, that occurred by summer”, said state department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel during a news conference.
“We continue to raise our concerns directly with the Indian government at senior levels,” he added.
When asked about a news report claiming that Canadian authorities have arrested five Indian nationals who were allegedly planning to target a Sikh separatist at a wedding ceremony, Patel declined to comment, suggesting that it would be better to ask the Canadian government for information related to their law enforcement system.
“As it relates to the news that you mentioned out of Canada, I would refer you to the Canadian government to comment on issues that are happening within their law enforcement system,” he said.
US federal prosecutors charged Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, with collaborating with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York in November last year. Gupta, who was arrested in the Czech Republic, was later extradited to the US.
India has publicly said that a high-level inquiry is investigating the evidence shared by the US in the alleged plot to kill Pannun on American soil.
According to court documents, an Indian government employee (CC-1) allegedly worked with Gupta and others in India and elsewhere to orchestrate the assassination plot against Pannun, a US citizen of Indian origin who is an attorney and political activist. Gupta, who resides in India, is an associate of CC-1 and has described his involvement in international narcotics and weapons trafficking in his communications with CC-1 and others.
CC-1, who has described himself as a “senior field officer” with responsibilities in “security management” and “intelligence,” and has referenced previously serving in India’s Central Reserve Police Force and receiving “officer training” in “battle craft” and “weapons,” directed the assassination plot from India. Federal prosecutors allege that CC-1 recruited Gupta in May 2023 to orchestrate the assassination in the US.
Pannun is known for being a vocal critic of the Indian government and leads a US-based organisation that advocates for the secession of Punjab.
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