Alleged Plot To Assassinate Khalistani Terrorist Pannun: What US Department Of Justice Indictment Claims

The United States Department of Justice has accused an Indian citizen, Nikhil Gupta, of plotting to assassinate Khalistani terrorists Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of proscribed Sikhs for Justice, in New York.

The indictment filed in a Manhattan court unveils a plan involving multiple targets and hints at a broader conspiracy with potential connections to a recent murder in British Columbia, Canada.

As per reports by Indian Express, according to the indictment, Gupta, who has a criminal case in Gujarat and is known as a narcotics and weapons dealer, was hired by an unnamed Indian official in May for the alleged assassination.

The document also suggests that the plan involved several individuals, with indications of another target in California that the Indian official wanted neutralised.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had previously raised concerns about a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar. However, India rejected these allegations as "absurd" and "motivated."

The indictment reveals Gupta's awareness of the impending murder of Nijjar and subsequent exchanges, indicating a coordinated effort.

Gupta allegedly warned the supposed assassins to exercise caution after Nijjar's killing, stating, "we got the go-ahead to go anytime."

The intricate web of the alleged plot involves financial transactions, with the Indian official agreeing to pay $100,000 for the assassination.

The indictment also includes photographs of cash handovers, illustrating the gravity of the situation.