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30-11-2023
NEW YORK: The US has charged a man over an alleged plot to assassinate an American citizen in New York who advocated for a Sikh separatist state.
The man, Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, was directed by an Indian government employee, according to an indictment unsealed on Wednesday.
The 52-year-old allegedly developed the plot from India and has been charged with murder-for-hire.
US prosecutors said the foiled plot was “deadly and outrageous”.
The Indian government has not responded to the indictment, but its government earlier said it would investigate security concerns aired by the US in relation to the plot.
“The defendant conspired from India to assassinate, right here in New York City, a US citizen of Indian origin who has publicly advocated for the establishment of a sovereign state for Sikhs,” US Attorney Damian Williams said.
“We will not tolerate efforts to assassinate US citizens on US soil,” he added.
The alleged target was not named in the indictment.
Sikhs are a religious minority that make up about 2% of India’s population. Some groups have long called for a separate homeland for Sikhs.
The Indian government has often reacted sharply to demands by Sikh separatists in Western countries for Khalistan, or a separate homeland.
“Indian counterparts expressed surprise and concern” when confronted by the allegations, National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said last week, when the news of the foiled plan broke. “They stated that activity of this nature was not their policy.”
Activists and some US lawmakers have become increasingly concerned about what they see as an audacious campaign of transnational repression by India of Sikh separatists in North America.
In September, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), a member of the American Sikh Congressional Caucus, posted on X that “I’m concerned by reports that India’s government is targeting Sikh activists abroad” and pledged to work with local and federal officials to ensure actions are taken to protect the Sikh community.
Although there is little evidence of widespread pro-separatist sentiment within Punjab, the Indian state that is home to the majority of the world’s Sikhs, Modi’s government has frequently alleged that Sikh extremists supported by Pakistan have fomented unrest and carried out terrorist attacks inside India.
These alleged militants, the Indian government argues, have been harbored by Canada and the United States despite repeated attempts by India to bring them to justice.
In a statement to The Washington Post, Pannun claimed “India wants to kill me for running the Khalistan referendum campaign.” He called the thwarted attempt on his life “an act of transnational terrorism,” which is a challenge to … US sovereignty and (a) threat to freedom of speech and democracy.” (Int’l News Desk)
