Bharat described as a “matter of concern”
US charging an Indian national with conspiring to kill a Sikh separatist on
American soil, and asserted that a high-level probe committee will investigate
all aspects of the case.
Bharat has constituted a probe team to inquire
allegations relating to the conspiracy to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh
extremist and known to be an American and Canadian citizen.
US federal prosecutors charged Indian
national Nikhil Gupta of involvement in the foiled plot to kill Pannun, on Wednesday.
“As regards the case against an
individual that has been filed in a US court allegedly linking him to an Indian
official, this is a matter of concern,” said External Affairs Ministry
spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.
“We have said and let me reiterate that
this is also contrary to government policy,” he said at a media briefing.
Bagchi said the “nexus between organised
crime, trafficking, gunrunning and extremists at an international level is a
serious issue for law enforcement agencies and organisations to consider and it
is precisely for that reason a high-level inquiry committee has been
constituted and we will obviously be guided by its results.”
The Financial Times, citing unnamed
sources, last week reported that US authorities foiled a plot to assassinate
Pannun, and issued a warning to the Indian government over concerns it was
involved in the plot.
The Washington Post reported that the Joe
Biden administration was so concerned after discovering the plot to assassinate
the Sikh separatist that it sent CIA Director William J Burns and Director of
National Intelligence Avril Haines to India in August and October respectively
to demand investigation and hold to account those responsible.
PTI
