Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. file | Photo Credit: AP
In form of Diplomatic dispute between India and Canada has increased Following the death of a pro-Khalistan man and a Canadian citizen in British Columbia last year, the US State Department on Monday (October 14, 2024) announced that an Indian investigation team will travel to Washington DC on October 15 to investigate a murder conspiracy. American citizen in New York.
The US Justice Department announced charges in November 2023 alleging that an Indian government employee directed the assassination plot Gurpatwant Singh PannunA Khalistani separatist who was designated as a terrorist by the Indian government in 2020. Pannun heads Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a group that advocates a separate homeland or Khalistan for Sikhs.
“The Investigative Committee will travel to Washington, D.C., on October 15 to discuss the case, including information they have received, and to receive updates from U.S. officials regarding the case.” The US State Department spokesperson’s office said.
an Indian citizen, Nikhil Gupta was extradited to America from Czech Republic in June 2024 and is now in custody in Brooklyn. Federal prosecutors had alleged that Mr. Gupta hired a hitman to kill Pannun and paid him for the job. The Indian government had set up an inquiry into the allegations in November last year.
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“Additionally, India has informed the United States that they are continuing their efforts to investigate other ties to the former government employee and will determine further steps as necessary,” the spokesperson’s office said.
Separately, a US district court had last month summoned National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Samant Goyal and others in connection with the complaint filed by Mr Pannun. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had said that the case was based on “unwarranted and baseless allegations”.
published – October 15, 2024 12:46 am IST