The United States “thwarted” a conspiracy to kill Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil and issued a warning to Indian government over concerns it was involved in the plot, a UK-based daily has reported.
Citing unnamed sources, the Financial Times claimed that the protest to New Delhi was registered after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Washington in June this year.
The report, however, did not mention whether the protest to India resulted in the plot being abandoned or if it was foiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
India has declared Pannun, the founder of the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a designated terrorist.
The FT report comes two months after Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged “credible” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in a Vancouver suburb.
New Delhi has rejected the allegations though the country had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020.
The FT report claimed that US federal prosecutors have filed a sealed indictment against at least one suspect in a New York district court.
“The US justice department is debating whether to unseal the indictment and make the allegations public or wait until Canada finishes its investigation into Nijjar’s murder. Further complicating the case, one person charged in the indictment is believed to have left the US,” said the daily.
Also read
- How hoax bomb threats and the shadow of the ‘Khalistan National Army’ are keeping police forces on their toes
- Was the ISI behind Khalistani disruption of Bangladesh Hindu rights protest in London?
- 'Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1', 'They call him OG' screening cancelled in Canadian theatre after arson attempt, shooting
- ‘They’re ready to take me out’: Khalistani activist’s bizarre claim as India, Canada try to thaw relations
However, the US Justice Department and the FBI have not issued any formal statement on such claims.
The report further claimed that Washington had shared details regarding Pannun’s case with a wider group of allies after Canada’s public accusation against India.
"Just like Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar's assassination by the Indian agents on Canadian soil was a challenge to Canada's sovereignty, the threat to American citizen on American soil is a Challenge to America's sovereign," Pannun told news agency Reuters, responding to the FT report.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday filed a case against Pannun over his recent video threat to flying Air India passengers.
Pannun was booked under sections including 120B, 153A and 506 of the IPC. He was also charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Earlier, Trudeau’s remarks in Canadian parliament had heightened the tensions between India and Ottawa and triggered a diplomatic row and tit-for-tat expulsions of senior diplomats.