The Indian government is examining the United States’ inputs on the “nexus between organised criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others”, amid reports that the US thwarted a plan to allegedly assassinate Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil.
“India takes such inputs seriously since it impinges on our own national security interests as well. Issues in the context of US inputs are already being examined by relevant departments,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.
On Wednesday, the White House said the US is “treating a reported plot to kill a Sikh separatist on American soil with utmost seriousness” and has raised the issue with the Indian government “at the senior-most levels”, reported Reuters.
Quoting unnamed sources, the Financial Times (FT) reported that the US informed India about concerns regarding an alleged plot to kill Mr Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the founder of the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) group.
The report said the US authorities also issued a warning to India over concerns the government in New Delhi was involved.
Pannun is a citizen of both the US and Canada.
Asked about the FT report, White House spokesperson Adrienne Watson said Indian counterparts had “expressed surprise and concern” and “stated that activity of this nature was not their policy”.
“We understand the Indian government is further investigating this issue and will have more to say about it in the coming days. We have conveyed our expectation that anyone deemed responsible should be held accountable,” Reuters quoted her as saying.
US President Joe Biden had raised the issue with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G20 summit in New Delhi in September, the Financial Times reported.
The FT report came two months after Canada said there were “credible” allegations linking Indian agents to the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. India has rejected the allegations and sought evidence.
On Monday, India’s anti-terror National Investigation Agency filed a case against Pannun, accusing him of issuing social media messages that said people flying with Air India were in danger. He had also claimed that Air India would not be allowed to operate on Nov 19.
Indo-Asian News Service
