The United States arrested and charged an Indian national over an assassination plot on a prominent Sikh separatist leader in New York City.
On Wednesday, prosecutors announced the charges against an individual who they believe was part of the murder conspiracy. American officials first became aware of the plot last spring. They involved Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who advocated for the creation of a sovereign Sikh state and is considered a terrorist by the Indian government.
Assassination Plot on Sikh Separatist Leader
The US Drug Enforcement Administration later interceded and set up a sting, having an undercover agent posing as a hitman. This came after the conspirators were said to have recruited an international narcotics trafficker in the plot to murder the activist in exchange for $100,000.
While the Indian government official who directed the assassination plot was not charged or identified by name in an indictment, he was described as a "senior field officer." He was said to have responsibilities in "security management" and "intelligence" and previously served in India's Central Reserve Police Force, as per the Associated Press.
The recently filed charges were aimed at a different person, 52-year-old Nikhil Gupta, a citizen of India. He was accused of murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire as the charges carry a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
In a news release, US Attorney Damian Williams, the chief federal prosecutor in Manhattan, said that the defendant conspired from India to assassinate a US citizen of Indian origin. He added that American authorities will not tolerate efforts to kill US citizens on American soil.
The charges against the Indian national were the second central recent accusation of complicity of Indian government officials in attempts to kill Sikh separatist figures living in North America. It comes as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in September said that there were credible allegations that India had links to the assassination of a Sikh activist in his country.
Indian National Arrested and Charged
The victim was identified as Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed in British Columbia. American intelligence agencies provided information to the Canadian government regarding the killing. On the other hand, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police had offered no information about its progress on the case, according to the New York Times.
Furthermore, American officials have expressed concerns to the Indian government about the planned assassination days before the charges against Gupta were revealed. It was not immediately clear who would represent the suspect in the case.
The target of the assassination plot, Pannun, is an outspoken proponent of independence for the northern Indian state of Punjab. The region is home to a large number of Sikhs, who are considered to be a powerful minority group in the South Asian country.
In a statement, Pannun said that the attempt on his life represents a "threat to freedom of speech and democracy." This particular case, along with the killing of Nijjar in Canada, complicates relations between the United States and India on international issues, said CNN.
