NEW DELHI: India’s investigation, carried out at the behest of US authorities, has found that rogue operatives not authorized by the government were involved in the attempted assassination of Sikh activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on US soil, Bloomberg reported.
US prosecutors had previously accused an Indian government official of planning a plot to kill Sikh activist Pannun, a US-Canadian citizen known for advocating for an independent Sikh state in India. Pannun was targeted for assassination by an Indian government official for advocating for an independent Sikh state in India. The US had demanded of the Indian government thorough investigation into the case. The assassination attempt on US soil has strained relations between the US and India.
The case has raised concerns about the incompetence of Indian intelligence agencies, with critics pointing to the penetration of rogue elements (as per the Indian stance) as a dangerous trend posing a significant risk to public safety and security.
The Indian government’s decision not to disclose the identity of the perpetrator has sparked speculation and criticism, implicating India as an accomplice in the heinous crime under International Law.
Canada Accused India of Involvement in Sikh Activist’s Murder
Notably, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau previously in September last year confirmed that there were “credible allegations” of Indian government involvement in the June murder of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. The Indian government’s reluctance to cooperate with Canadian authorities in the Nijjar case has further fueled suspicions of India’s involvement in the brutal murder of the Sikh activist.
Recently, the CBC released a documentary titled “Inside an alleged plot by Indian Govt to Kill Sikh Activists in Canada,” highlighting Indian foreign interference and transnational repression against the Sikh Canadian community. India’s censorship of the documentary on online platforms and its refusal to investigate the heinous crime has further strengthened the allegations.
Calls for an independent and impartial investigation into the alleged involvement of rogue elements within India’s intelligence agencies have intensified. An independent and impartial investigation is needed into the alleged involvement of rogue elements within India’s intelligence agency.
Civil society organizations, human rights groups, and the Sikh community are urged to raise awareness about the issue and pressure the Modi government to take appropriate action.
