The United States has revealed it thwarted a plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent Khalistani leader, by arresting a key suspect in the conspiracy, Nikhil Gupta, on June 30 in the Czech Republic. The indictment, which outlines the plan in detail, does not implicate the Indian government in the scheme, a notable departure from the Canadian government’s accusations of India’s involvement in similar cases.
Pannun, an attorney and political activist advocating for the creation of Khalistan, a separate Sikh state carved out of India’s Punjab, was the target of an assassination plan allegedly orchestrated by a former Indian government official, Vikash Yadav, and Gupta, who the US describes as an international narcotics and weapons trafficker. According to the US indictment, Yadav and Gupta planned to kill Pannun either at his home or office.
The indictment claims Yadav initially intended to approach Pannun under the pretext of seeking legal advice, with the aim of luring him to a secluded location for the execution. However, the plan shifted to targeting him at his known locations. Yadav reportedly provided Gupta with Pannun’s personal details, including his home address and daily routine, which Gupta passed on to an undercover agent posing as a hitman. An advance payment of $15,000 was made in June, part of a larger $100,000 contract.
The plot gained urgency following the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a close associate of Pannun, in Canada on June 18. Gupta reportedly urged the undercover hitman to carry out the murder swiftly, fearing Pannun would become more cautious. “Don’t take much time,” Gupta allegedly told the hitman, as per the indictment.
The US law enforcement operation, which involved surveillance and undercover agents, culminated in Gupta’s arrest, effectively preventing the assassination. The document highlights extensive evidence, including money transfers, electronic communications, and details shared with the would-be hitman.
Pannun, based in the US, is a vocal critic of the Indian government and leads the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) group, which advocates for Punjab’s secession from India. He has been a key figure in the Khalistani movement, which India views as a national security threat. While the US indictment labels Pannun a victim in this case, it makes little mention of his controversial activities, including his public death threats against Indian leaders, such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
