U.S. Points Finger at Indian Official in Alleged Assassination Plot

International Intrigue Unveiled : It reads like a plot straight out of a political thriller—allegations of a high-profile assassination plot, involving a senior Indian intelligence official, Nikhil Gupta, and a U.S.-based Khalistani activist, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The U.S. Department of Justice dropped a bombshell with its indictment, claiming that a yet-to-be-named Indian intelligence official, referred to as CC-1, orchestrated the sinister plan.

India swiftly responded by establishing a "high-level" enquiry committee to investigate the allegations, showcasing the gravity of the situation. The Ministry of External Affairs announced this move, indicating the government's commitment to unraveling the truth behind the accusations.

The indictment alleges that CC-1 not only orchestrated the plot but also engaged Nikhil Gupta to hire a hitman with an advance payment. Shockingly, it suggests that the Gujarat Police may have dropped criminal charges against Gupta under the influence of the Indian intelligence official to pave the way for the contract killing.

The accusations don't stop there—there's a link between this alleged plot and the conspiracy to kill Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian-based Khalistani activist. The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York stated, “We will not tolerate efforts to assassinate U.S. citizens on U.S. soil.” Nikhil Gupta, the alleged middleman, was apprehended in the Czech Republic and is awaiting extradition to the U.S.

What adds an extra layer of intrigue is the involvement of high-level authorities. The Washington Post reported that these allegations were raised by top U.S. officials, including the President, Secretary of State, National Security Advisor, and the CIA chief, between June and October of the same year.

Interestingly, these allegations precede the Canadian government's claims against Indian government agents in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The timing raises questions, and while the Indian government has not explicitly connected the two incidents, it is clear that they are taking the U.S. allegations seriously.

The Ministry of External Affairs, in response to the allegations, stated that the U.S. had shared "inputs" on a "nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists, and others." While the specific entities involved were not disclosed, the government emphasized the serious implications for national security and assured that relevant departments were actively investigating.

The high-level enquiry committee, initiated on November 18, indicates the Indian government's proactive approach in addressing the situation. The committee will examine the allegations and determine the necessary follow-up actions based on its findings.

The U.S. indictment sheds light on the unnamed Indian official, described as a "Senior Field Officer" responsible for "Security Management" and "Intelligence." The detailed accounts of phone communications between CC-1 and Gupta paint a chilling picture of the planning stages, including hiring a hitman and sharing the target's whereabouts.

Adding a layer of complexity, the indictment ties the Indian official to the Nijjar killing in Canada, claiming that Gupta was sent a video of the incident, suggesting Nijjar as one of "many targets" for Indian covert operations.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the founder of Sikhs for Justice, is no stranger to controversy, wanted in India for advocating a separatist "Sikh referendum." Despite being designated a terrorist in 2020, his extradition status remains uncertain.

As the international community watches this unfolding drama, contrasting reactions from the Indian government regarding the Pannun case and the Nijjar case in Canada are evident. The establishment of the high-level enquiry committee demonstrates a commitment to transparency and accountability, in stark contrast to the expulsion of Canadian diplomats following the Nijjar allegations.

The plot thickens, and as the investigation progresses, the world awaits the unraveling of this international mystery, where geopolitics, covert operations, and alleged assassination plots converge in a real-life political thriller.