Investigation in the Murder Plot of Khalistani Terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun by US Authorities

The US State Department has made it clear that they will not comment on the ongoing investigation into the alleged plot to assassinate Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun until the allegations are proven in court. Pannun, who is an India-designated terrorist holding American and Canadian citizenship, has been at the center of a high-profile case involving Indian national Nikhil Gupta.

Gupta, who is currently in custody in the Czech Republic, has been charged with murder-for-hire in connection with the alleged attempt to kill Pannun. The US Justice Department claims that Gupta was recruited by an Indian government employee to hire a hitman to carry out the assassination, which was foiled by US authorities.

The External Affairs Ministry of India has rejected reports linking an Indian Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) official to the plot, calling it “unwarranted and unsubstantiated.” India has also set up a high-level committee to investigate the matter.

Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry has stated that Washington has not provided any reliable evidence of Indian citizens’ involvement in the case. The US State Department has reiterated that they do not involve themselves in elections anywhere in the world, including in India, where Lok Sabha elections are currently underway.

The elections, being held in seven phases, are the second-longest polling exercise in India’s electoral history. The votes will be counted on June 4th, with the last general elections in 2019 also being conducted in seven phases.