In the first comments since the US federal prosecutors accused an Indian intelligence official of planning and directing a plot from India to allegedly kill Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York, India said on Thursday that it was a “matter of concern” and it is “contrary to Indian government’s policy”. “As regards the case against an individual has been filed in the US court, allegedly linking him to an Indian official, this is a matter of concern…this is also contrary to government policy. The nexus between organized crime, trafficking, gunrunning and extremists at an international level is a serious issue for law enforcement, agencies and organisations to consider. It is precisely for that reason that a high level inquiry committee has been constituted. We will obviously be guided by its results,” Arindam Bagchi, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said. Bagchi was responding to questions while briefing reporters on the Prime Minister’s visit to Dubai for the COP-28 summit. The alleged assassination plot allegedly involved another Indian citizen and two individuals, a source and a hitman, who turned out to be undercover US officers. The allegations are in an indictment filed by the US Department of Justice in a federal court in Manhattan. The Indian official, according to the indictment, was working with a 52-year-old Indian citizen Nikhil Gupta, also known as Nick, who was arrested by Czech authorities on June 30 this year and has been charged with murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. Each count carries a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison. The indictment alleged that the official, who has not been named and is referred to as CC-1, is an Indian government agency employee who has described himself as a “Senior Field Officer” with responsibilities in “Security Management” and “Intelligence.” He has also been referred to as previously serving in India’s Central Reserve Police Force and receiving “officer training” in “battle craft” and “weapons.”
