In the aftermath of The Washington Post’s identification of an Indian official allegedly involved in a scheme to eliminate Sikh extremist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, India denounced the report, deeming it laden with unjustified and unverified accusations on a grave matter. Quoting undisclosed sources, the newspaper implicated a RAW operative in connection with the purported conspiracy to assassinate Pannun.
Addressing inquiries from the media, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal asserted, “The aforementioned report levies unjustified and unverified accusations on a significant matter.” He further elaborated, “A high-level committee, commissioned by the Government of India, is presently engaged in investigating security apprehensions relayed by the US administration regarding networks of organized criminals, terrorists, and related entities.”
Jaiswal cautioned against making speculative and reckless remarks concerning the issue. Last November, US federal prosecutors indicted Indian citizen Nikhil Gupta for collaborating with a government official from India in an unsuccessful attempt to eliminate Pannun, a Sikh radical residing in the United States.
Pannun, facing terrorism charges in India, maintains citizenship in both the US and Canada. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar disclosed in Parliament on December 7 that India had initiated an inquiry committee to examine information provided by the US authorities, emphasizing the matter’s implications for national security.