An Indian, suspected to be involved in an unsuccessful attempt to kill a Khalistan separatist in America, has been extradited to the US from the Czech Republic, reports said.
The person identified as Nikhil Gupta has been accused by the US agencies of plotting to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a U.S. resident who advocated for a sovereign Sikh state of Khalistan in northern India.
Guta is accused to have carried out the attack with the help of an Indian government official, according to the federal Bureau of Prisons website.
Gupta, who fled to Prague from India last year, was held by Czech authorities.
His petition to avoid being sent to the US was rejected by a Czech court in May last, clearing the way for his extradition.
However, according to media reports no one, including US Justice Department spokesperson and Gupta’s US-based lawyer, did not comment on the reported development.
Also, there was also no immediate comment from Czech authorities.
The alleged assassination plots against Khalistan separatists in the US and Canada has tested India’s relations with the Western world which sees it as a counter to China’s rising global influence.
Moreover, India denies involvement of its agencies in any such plots.
Canada said in September its intelligence agencies were pursuing allegations linking India’s government to the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023 in Canada.
Nikhil Gupta, 52, also known as ‘Nick’, was arrested in Prague by the the Czech authorities in June last year.
He has been charged with attempting to hire a hitman to assassinate Khalistan separatist Pannun, who has been designated as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in India.
The US has alleged that an Indian government employee is the mastermind behind Pannun’s killing and that the employee, whose identity is unknown and has been named CC-1 in the case, gave directions to Gupta to plot the assassination of Pannun.
