Plot to Assassinate Sikh Leader in NYC Uncovered by Indian Authorities: Feds

An indictment revealed today that a plan to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh leader in New York City, was foiled by undercover agents. The scheme included an Indian government official working with a citizen named Nick Gupta. Gupta was arrested in June and extradited to the U.S. after being caught planning the assassination. The alleged plot involved Gupta hiring a hitman to kill Pannun, exchanging messages and photos of the target and his home. In addition to the foiled scheme, another Sikh separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was murdered in Vancouver, Canada. Both Nijjar and Pannun advocated for the establishment of an independent Sikh state in India, known as Khalistan, and were considered terrorists by the Indian government. The indictment revealed that the same Indian official involved in the Pannun plot sent Gupta a photo of Nijjar’s dead body after the murder, indicating that Nijjar was also a target. Gupta has been charged with murder-for-hire and conspiracy, but India has denied involvement in Nijjar’s murder and has not acknowledged any plot to kill Pannun. Last September, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that his country’s investigators had found “credible evidence” that Indian officials ordered the killing of Nijjar. Pannun stated in an interview with Time Magazine that he is undeterred and will continue advocating for the Khalistan referendum campaign, despite the threats against him.