US accuses Indian man of planning to kill Sikh activist in New York

USA

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan on Wednesday charged an Indian national with attempting to assassinate a Sikh separatist — and American citizen — in New York City, charges that could complicate delicate U.S. and Indian relations.

The murder-for-hire charge against the man, Nikhil Gupta, 52, was announced by the Ministry of Justice days after US officials expressed concern to the Indian government about the assassination plot against the separatist.

And they came just months after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada accused the Indian government of involvement in the June killing of another Sikh separatist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Vancouver.

The target of the planned attack in New York was identified by US officials as Gurpatwant Singh Pannunwho is general counsel for the New York-based advocacy group Sikhs for Justice.

Mr Pannun is an outspoken supporter of independence for the northern Indian state of Punjab, which is home to a large number of Sikhs.

According to the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Mr. Gupta was arrested by authorities in the Czech Republic in late June.

The plot involved several accomplices, including an Indian government official with a background in law enforcement, federal prosecutors in New York said.

The indictment included a photo of what prosecutors said was a pretext for the murder.Credit…US Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York

That person, who was not identified, is accused of recruiting Mr. Gupta, who prosecutors say then hired a hitman to kill Mr. Pannun and provided personal information about him, including his home address in New York City and details about his daily activities. .

However, that assassin turned out to be an “undercover U.S. law enforcement officer,” according to the Southern District.

Mr. Gupta is charged with “murder for hire and conspiracy to commit murder for hire,” prosecutors said, with each charge carrying a possible prison sentence of 10 years.

Attempts to reach him and his attorneys Wednesday were not immediately successful.

Julian E Barnes reporting contributed.

This is a developing story and will be updated.