Washington DC, October 15:
An Indian investigative team will visit Washington DC on October 15 to probe a plot to assassinate a US person in New York, according to the US State Department, which comes amid a diplomatic spat between India and Canada.
The US Department of State said that an Indian enquiry team will be visiting the US on Tuesday to look into the role of an Indian government official in the thwarted plan to kill a US citizen.
An Indian inquiry committee "is actively investigating the individual," as stated in the State Department statement, and India had previously informed the US that it was probing "other linkages of the former government employee."
The purported assassination plot involving Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an Indian national and a pro-Khalistani terrorist, allegedly failed, and Indian national Nikhil Gupta is a suspect in this case.
In early June, Gupta was brought to the United States from the Czech Republic to face trial, where he entered a plea of "not guilty." The United States Department of Justice has charged that Gupta, who is 52 years old, is associated with the Indian government and that he and others conspired to have Pannun killed in New York City.
"An Indian Enquiry Committee that was established to investigate activities of certain organised criminals is actively investigating the individual who was identified last year in the Department of Justice's indictment as an Indian government employee who directed a foiled plot to assassinate a US citizen in New York City," the US State Department stated in a press announcement.
"The Enquiry Committee will be travelling to Washington, DC on October 15th, as part of their ongoing investigations to discuss the case, including information they have obtained, and to receive an update from US authorities regarding the US case that is proceeding," the Department of State announced.
"Additionally, India has informed the United States they are continuing their efforts to investigate other linkages of the former government employee and will determine follow-up steps, as necessary."
The dual Canadian and American citizen Pannun is a terrorist on the Indian government's wanted list. A US citizen and leader of the Sikh Separatist Movement located in the US were both targeted for possible assassination plots in November, when an indictment against an Indian person was released by the US Justice Department.
In response to US security concerns, India established a high-level probe group in November of last year. According to India's Ministry of External Affairs, the country's security interests are also affected by such suggestions, and the appropriate government agencies are already looking into the matter.
Early on Monday, Canada named several "persons of interest" in its probe, including the High Commissioner to Ottawa, and other "targeted diplomats and officials" from India. In the end, six Canadian ambassadors were also expelled by India.
