US Charges Indian Official in Thwarted NYC Sikh Separatist Assassination
TL/DR –
US federal prosecutors have accused an unnamed Indian government official of scheming to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh activist based in New York City. The allegations could complicate the Biden administration’s efforts to strengthen ties with India to counter China. Diplomatic tensions have been heightened as the US intelligence officials have expressed concerns about the alleged plot to Indian officials, and the Indian government has established a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the matter.
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Indian government official is accused by US federal prosecutors of planning to assassinate a Sikh activist in New York City, causing a snag in the Biden administration’s plan to strengthen ties with India to counter China.
The US justice department filed allegations in an indictment, charging one Indian citizen for involvement in the plot with the official, who wasn’t named or charged.
The intended killing target was Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, general counsel for Sikhs for Justice, a group advocating for an independent Sikh state in India, “Khalistan”. Pannun said the Indian government targeted him because of his referendum organizing efforts for Punjab’s independence.
“This attempt on my life on American soil is a blatant case of India’s transnational terrorism, posing a threat to America’s sovereignty, freedom of speech, and democracy,” Pannun stated.
The indictment implicates Narendra Modi, known for suppressing criticism and dissenting political opinion through violence, added Pannun.
Before the indictment, India’s foreign ministry announced a high-level inquiry committee to investigate. No immediate response to the new indictment was received from the Indian government.
Senior US intelligence officials have visited India to express concerns about the alleged plot, marking its diplomatic sensitivity. US security adviser Jake Sullivan also addressed the matter with his counterpart, warning it could damage trust between the two nations.
The failed assassination plot was first reported by the FT, and President Joe Biden raised the issue with Modi at the G20 summit in September.
Concerns about possible Indian government involvement in the assassination plot on US soil surfaced after a Sikh separatist was murdered in a Vancouver suburb.
In an initial indictment filed in June, prosecutors alleged Indian citizen Nikhil Gupta conspired to hire an assassin to kill Pannun. A superseding indictment filed later revealed the Indian official, unnamed but dubbed CC-1, directed the thwarted plot from India.
Insiders insist the White House was unaware of a possible Indian government connection when Modi visited Washington. The Biden administration sees its relationship with India as key to countering China in the Indo-Pacific region, a strategy made more complex by the alleged assassination plot.
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