By Kanishka Singh and Sarah N. Lynch
WASHINGTON/PRAGUE (Reuters) – America suspects an Indian man of being concerned in a failed plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist on U.S. soil, the Czech Justice Minister stated on Monday. USA.
U.S. federal prosecutors have accused Nikhil Gupta of conspiring with an Indian authorities official to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a U.S. resident who advocated the institution of a sovereign Sikh state in northern India.
Gupta traveled from India to Prague final June and was arrested by Czech authorities. Final month, a Czech courtroom rejected his request to keep away from being despatched to america, clearing the way in which for the Czech justice minister to extradite him.
“Pursuant to my (June 3) resolution, Nikhil Gupta, an Indian citizen suspected of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire with intent to trigger demise, was extradited to america on Friday (June 14). , the cost is a legal offence.
The feedback confirmed an earlier Reuters report on the extradition, which cited the federal Bureau of Prisons web site and a supply accustomed to the matter.
A search of inmate names on the Bureau of Prisons web site on Sunday confirmed that Gupta, 52, was being held on the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Middle, a federal administrative detention facility.
A spokesman for the U.S. Division of Justice declined to remark. Gupta’s U.S. lawyer, Jeffrey Chabrow, had no rapid remark.
Diplomatic relations put to the check
The invention of an alleged assassination plot in opposition to Sikh separatists in america and Canada has examined relations with India, which the West sees as a counterweight to China’s rising international affect. The Indian authorities denies involvement in such a conspiracy.
Canada stated in September that its intelligence businesses have been pursuing allegations by the Indian authorities associated to the homicide of Sikh separatist chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in June 2023.
In November, U.S. authorities stated an Indian authorities official hatched a plot to homicide Pannu, a U.S. and Canadian citizen. Gupta was accused of being a part of the conspiracy.
Pannu instructed Reuters on Sunday that whereas extradition was a welcome step, “Nikhil Gupta is simply the foot soldier”. He claimed that those that employed Gupta have been senior officers within the Indian authorities who have been performing on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Indian authorities has distanced itself from the conspiracy in opposition to Pannon, saying it was in opposition to authorities coverage. It stated it could formally examine the safety considerations raised by Washington.
New Delhi has lengthy complained about Sikh separatist teams exterior India, viewing them as a safety menace. These teams have been dedicated to the Khalistani motion, which requires an unbiased Sikh state from India.
Final month, Washington stated it was happy with the actions taken to date by India to make sure accountability for the alleged plot, however added that many steps nonetheless wanted to be taken.
