US authorities informed New Delhi that the Indian government might have been aware of a plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
The White House stated that the US took the plot seriously and raised the matter with the Indian government “at the senior-most levels.”
US authorities have expressed concern to New Delhi that the Indian government may have been aware of the plot, according to the official, who wished to remain anonymous. He declined to comment on when and how US officials learnt of the plot or how the alleged assassination attempt was foiled.
In addition to the diplomatic warning to India, US federal prosecutors have also filed a sealed indictment against at least one suspect in a New York district court, according to the Financial Times.
US officials have expressed concern about the plot at the highest levels of the Indian government, with officials in New Delhi stating that they are taking the matter seriously.
We are treating this issue with utmost seriousness, and it has been raised by the US Government with the Indian Government, including at the senior-most levels. Indian counterparts expressed surprise and concern.
National Security Council spokesperson, Adrienne Watson, declared:
“They stated that activity of this nature was not their policy. Based on a discussion with senior US government officials, we understand the Indian government is further investigating this issue and will have more to say about it in the coming days.”
Law enforcement officials have repeatedly warned of what they say is a disturbing trend of foreign governments seeking to harass, stalk or intimidate dissidents and political opponents in the United States.
India’s foreign ministry issued a statement noting that in recent talks, the US has provided information regarding “nexus between organised criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others.”
This followed a September announcement by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that the Indian government may have been linked to the murder in that country of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Nijjar had advocated for the creation of a Sikh homeland in the form of an independent state of Khalistan in the northern Indian state of Punjab, which borders Pakistan.
India has dismissed the charge as absurd, but Canada has expelled a senior Indian diplomat during the investigation.
Indian anti-terrorism agency on Monday filed a case against Pannun, saying he had warned passengers of flag carrier Air India in video messages on social media that their lives were in danger.
Pannun stated that his message was to “boycott Air India not bomb.” He told Reuters on Wednesday that he would allow the US government to respond “to the issue of threats to my life on American soil from the Indian operatives.”
“Just like Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s assassination by the Indian agents on Canadian soil was a challenge to Canada’s sovereignty, the threat to [an] American citizen on American soil is a Challenge to America’s sovereign[ty].”
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is the general counsel of Sikhs for Justice, an organisation that India designated as an “unlawful association” in 2019, citing its involvement in extremist activities. India listed him as an “individual terrorist” in 2020.
