The United States is treating the alleged assassination attempt on prominent Sikh leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York with utmost seriousness, as communicated by a State Department spokesperson on Wednesday. In a daily briefing, Matthew Miller mentioned that Secretary of State Tony Blinken has officially expressed concerns over the matter in discussions with India’s foreign minister.
Miller refrained from commenting on the ongoing investigation into the assassination attempt, awaiting the completion of inquiries by the Department of Justice. Simultaneously, he acknowledged India’s own investigation into the matter. When questioned about India’s cooperation, Miller opted not to speculate, emphasizing that assessment would occur once investigations concluded. He noted the US’s encouragement for India to collaborate with Canada’s investigations into the murder of a Sikh leader and expressed anticipation of the outcome of Indian investigations into the alleged conspiracy on American soil.
Pressed further on the issue, Miller declined to speculate on India’s cooperation until investigations were completed and refrained from commenting on whether the alleged actions constituted an attack on US sovereignty.
In a previous briefing, Miller reiterated that ongoing law enforcement matters would not be discussed from the podium, deferring to the Department of Justice. He emphasized that the US government had communicated the seriousness with which it views the alleged incident to the highest levels of the Indian government.
Miller stated, “They (Indian government) have opened an investigation into the matter, and we look forward to seeing the results of that investigation.”
The spokesperson emphasized the US position against transnational oppression, asserting that this stance is not specific to India but applicable globally. The development comes after US law enforcement authorities filed a “murder-for-hire” charge against Indian national Nikhil Gupta. The authorities allege a foiled plot to assassinate pro-Khalistan leader Pannun, purportedly supervised by an Indian government official.
A senior Biden administration official had previously warned India over concerns that the government in New Delhi may have been involved in the plot. The indictment details that an unidentified Indian government employee contacted Gupta in May to orchestrate the assassination. Gupta allegedly sought a criminal associate, unknowingly reaching out to a DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) source posing as a hitman.
The Indian government employee provided details about the victim, including phone numbers, daily routines, and the victim’s New York City home address. The government employee allegedly offered $100,000 for the assassination, indicating a complex web of international intrigue that law enforcement agencies are diligently unraveling.
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