The Czech Republic Police on Monday released visuals of Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national accused of participating in a murder-for-hire plot against Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, being extradited to the United States. Gupta, 52, arrived in the U.S. on Friday, June 14, following his arrest in Prague a year ago.
The case has drawn significant attention due to allegations that the plot was directed by an Indian government employee. On Monday, Gupta pleaded not guilty to charges of murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire in a Manhattan federal court. Both charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland stated, “Nikhil Gupta will now face justice in an American courtroom for his involvement in an alleged plot, directed by an employee of the Indian government, to target and assassinate a U.S. citizen for his support of the Sikh separatist movement in India.” Garland emphasized that the U.S. “will not tolerate attempts to silence or harm American citizens.”
Here is what you need to know
The Department of Justice alleged last year that Gupta was involved in a plot targeting an attorney advocating for a Sikh secessionist state in India. The Indian government has long opposed this movement. The DOJ’s accusations parallel those made by the Canadian government, which claimed that “agents of the Indian” government were responsible for the assassination of prominent Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in June 2023. India has denied all allegations.
The extradition and subsequent trial of Nikhil Gupta have raised questions about potential diplomatic strains between the United States and India. Some analysts suggest that the extradition might be an attempt by the US to pressurize India. Many have also asked why Sikh extremists are allowed to operate in the US.
A quick look at the past
Back in 2007, B Raman, who retired as Additional Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat, in his book “The Kaoboys of R&AW – Down the Memory Lane” revealed that during the Richard Nixon administration, US, in collusion with Gen Yahya Khan’s government in Pakistan, initiated a covert action plan to fuel a separatist movement in India’s Punjab. Raman also served as R&AW’s head of counterterrorism division. The question that now remains is if the CIA is yet again attempting to fuel a separatist movement in Punjab.
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