Indian Man Arrested in International Assassination Plot, Charged with Planning to Kill Sikh Separatist Leader

An Indian man named Nikhil Gupta has been arrested in the Czech Republic in connection with an international assassination plot. He is charged with planning to kill a prominent Sikh separatist leader named Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is a vocal critic of the Indian government and advocates for the establishment of an independent Sikh state called Khalistan.

The United States, where the alleged assassination was planned to take place, sees Gupta as a crucial figure in this plot. According to federal prosecutor Damian Williams, Gupta conspired from India to assassinate Pannun, who is a US citizen of Indian origin.

Gupta is believed to have been recruited for the assassination by an unnamed senior field officer in security and intelligence, who works for the Indian government. This government employee, who brokered the deal, agreed to pay an undercover US agent $100,000 to carry out the killing. However, Gupta was unaware that the supposed hitman was actually an undercover agent.

The case is reminiscent of a similar incident in Canada, where another Sikh separatist leader named Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed. This led to a diplomatic row between Ottawa and New Delhi. The seriousness of these allegations has raised concerns and tensions between the US and Indian authorities.

Gupta, who has a history of criminal activities including drug and weapon trafficking, has admitted to his involvement in the plot. He now faces charges of murder-for-hire and murder-for-hire conspiracy, which could result in a prison sentence of up to 20 years if he is found guilty.