In a startling revelation, an Indian man named Nikhil Gupta has been apprehended in the Czech Republic for his alleged role in a conspiracy to assassinate a prominent Sikh leader in the United States. The intended target is reported to be Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the outspoken leader of Sikhs for Justice, a pro-Khalistan group advocating for an independent Sikh state.
Gupta, aged 52, is believed to have orchestrated the sinister plan from India, collaborating with an unnamed senior field officer in security and intelligence within the Indian government. This government official reportedly played a pivotal role in recruiting Gupta for the assassination scheme.
The unfolding events indicate that Gupta had negotiated with an undercover US agent, whom he believed to be a hired assassin, to carry out the hit. Shockingly, the Indian government employee, in dealings facilitated by Gupta, agreed to pay the undercover agent a substantial sum of $100,000 for the execution.
Federal prosecutor Damian Williams emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “The defendant conspired from India to assassinate, right here in New York City, a US citizen of Indian origin.”
While the target was not explicitly named by prosecutors, US officials have identified Gurpatwant Singh Pannun as the individual in the crosshairs. Pannun is known for his vocal criticism of the Indian government and his advocacy for separatist movements in Punjab.
The intricate details of this international plot underscore the complexities involved, with Gupta at the center of a web connecting Indian intelligence, an unwitting undercover agent, and a planned act of violence on US soil. As legal proceedings unfold, the case raises questions about the extent of such clandestine operations and the potential geopolitical ramifications.
