US withdraws note on 'Indian panel's visit' to Washington for probe of Gurpatwant Pannun murder plot
World | October 14, 2024 22:30 ISTIndia has denied the allegations but has constituted an internal investigations team to look into the matter.
India has denied the allegations but has constituted an internal investigations team to look into the matter.
Rahul Gandhi ignited a political controversy in the United States, casting doubt on whether a Sikh person would be allowed to wear a turban. The unexpected endorsement by the Khalistani terrorist did not portray the Congress leader in a good light.
US-based Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said Inderjeet Singh Gosal, an aide of Nijjar, has received warnings from the Canadian Police about a threat to his life. Nijjar was shot dead in Surrey last year and his death became the centre of a diplomatic row between India and Canada.
Russia on Wednesday said the US has not been able to provide any reliable evidence of India's involvement in the Pannun case and accused it of interfering in India's ongoing Lok Sabha elections. A recent US report named an Indian intelligence officer allegedly involved in the plot.
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.
Nikhil Gupta, 52, had been charged last year by US federal prosecutors for his involvement in the foiled murder plot of Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu said it was a serious issue between the US and India.
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.
The US government had objected to sending proof of charges on Nikhil Gupta's request till he appears in a New York court. US Distric Judge Victor Marrero said the court was persuaded by the government’s argument that Gupta has no right to discovery at this time.
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 SFJ is a US-based organisation banned by the Centre under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for its anti-India activities.
The External Affairs Minister argued that the US shared inputs that had a bearing on India's national security interests, while Canada provided no proof to support its claims. The matter concerns an Indian national being indicted in a murder plot against Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
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.
India's response came after another most wanted Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist named Hanzla Adnan, who allegedly directed the Udhampur terror attack in 2015, was killed in Karachi. So far, 19 terrorists have been killed in such "phantom" attacks, dealing a heavy blow to Pakistan's terror organisations.
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.
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