Indian national admits role in plot to assassinate US Sikh leader
Al Jazeera
February 14, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
An Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, has pleaded guilty in a US court to his involvement in a 2023 plot to hire a hitman to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent Sikh separatist leader based in New York. Federal prosecutors revealed that Gupta transferred $15,000 online to someone he believed would carry out the assassination, but the individual was actually a confidential source working with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Gupta, who was extradited from the Czech Republic, faces up to 24 years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines.
The case has raised tensions between India and Western nations, as prosecutors allege that Indian intelligence officer Vikash Yadav directed the plot and recruited Gupta. New Delhi denies any involvement, stating such operations would contradict government policy. Pannun, who advocates for the secession of Punjab through his group Sikhs for Justice, described himself as a human rights lawyer fighting for equal religious rights in India. He accused the Indian government
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Originally published on Al Jazeera on 2/14/2026