Slovakian police have charged a man in connection with the attempted assassination of Prime Minister Robert Fico, the country’s interior minister said Thursday.
A 71-year-old man shot Fico five times after he was leaving a government building, although the motive for the shooting remained unclear. Fico, 59, was admitted to a hospital for urgent treatment and was earlier reported in a life-threatening situation, but his condition has since improved.
Fico, 59, who became PM for the third time last year, was shot five times by a 71-year-old man in Handlova on Wednesday. He was then transported by helicopter to the regional capital Banska Bystrica for urgent treatment and was earlier reported to be in a life-threatening condition.
Notably, the US has called on India to take the allegations of Indian involvement in the foiled murder plot of Khalistani separatist Pannun seriously and investigate. Pannun, designated as a terrorist in India, holds dual citizenship in the US and Canada.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the "unfounded" allegations reflect Washington's misunderstanding of national mentality and disrespect India as a state. She also accused the US of having a "neo-colonial mentality" and trying to interfere in India's ongoing elections.
The US State Department said it is waiting for the results of India's investigation into the Pannun case and said that work in that regard was ongoing. This comes after a US report named an Indian intelligence officer allegedly involved in the foiled murder case of the Khalistani terrorist.
A report by the Washington Post named an Indian intelligence officer who was directly involved in the foiled assassination plot of India-designated Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. India has rejected the report as making "unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations on a serious matter."
A report by the Washington Post named the Indian official, a former RAW chief, who was allegedly involved in the foiled assassination bid on Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. India has vehemently denied its involvement in the case, saying it goes against its official policy.
US Senator Ben Cardin, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed his concerns on the timing of the sale amid concerns about the alleged murder-for-hire plot. He approved the deal after the Biden administration assured him that India was investigating the case.
A final decision on the extradition of Nikhil Gupta lies in the hands of Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blazek once the ruling is delivered to all parties in the case. Gupta had argued his identity was mistaken and that he was not the man the US was looking for, according to Czech media.
Gupta’s attorney filed a ‘Motion to Compel Production of Discovery’ on January 4 seeking to direct federal prosecutors to provide "defence materials" about the Pannun case. US District Judge Victor Marrero ordered the Biden administration to respond to a motion filed by Gupta's lawyers.
The lawmakers welcomed India's decision to constitute an enquiry committee to probe the matter and stressed that it is critical to hold those responsible, including Indian government officials, accountable and provide assurances that such incidents are not repeated.
The US commended India for taking the matter regarding the 'foiled murder plot' seriously and reiterated that it wants the case fully investigated and the accused held accountable. Meanwhile, FBI Director Christopher Wray is set to visit New Delhi next week to discuss the matter.
Blinken, who is currently in Israel, declined to share further details on the matter as it was an ongoing legal matter. An Indian national was indicted with charges of murder-for-hire for plotting to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
Earlier, reports claimed that the US thwarted a plan for the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and warned India over concerns that it was involved in the plot. The 52-year-old Indian national Nikhil Gupta has been arrested and charged with murder-for-hire.
Gupta has been charged with murder-on-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, said US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Matthew G Olsen. Authorities say that Gupta agreed to pay $100,000 to a 'hitman' to kill the 'victim' residing in New York.
Mohammed Deif came was born and raised among an impoverished family in Gaza's Khan Younis Group. He joined Hamas in his 20s and rose through the ranks by orchestrating a series of suicide bombings and kidnappings, becoming Israel's most wanted man.
The woman was "collecting information for an airstrike during Zelenskyy's visit" to the Mykolaiv region last month, said Ukraine's Security Service.
"This is your prime minister about whom a five-member panel of senior doctors is saying that his mental stability is questionable. There was some inappropriate gesture," the Pakistan health minister said in a press conference.
Maldives Police revealed that they have made ten arrests till now in connection with the sensational attack on Nasheed. The police also made public the identities of these 10 people for the first time on Saturday.
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