Share this @internewscast.com

Federal prosecutors on Wednesday announced charges against a man they said was “recruited” by an Indian government employee to assassinate a Sikh activist in New York City.

Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, was arrested in the Czech Republic on June 30 on murder-for-hire charges, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York said in a news release.

Gupta is accused of trying to hire a hit man to kill an attorney and political activist who is a U.S. citizen of Indian origin. The purported hitman Gupta allegedly tried to hire was an undercover officer with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

“The dedicated law enforcement agents and prosecutors in this case foiled and exposed a dangerous plot to assassinate a U.S. citizen on U.S. soil,” Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen said in a statement. “The Department of Justice will be relentless in using the full reach of our authorities to pursue accountability for lethal plotting emanating from overseas.”

The unidentified Indian government employee allegedly contacted Gupta in May to orchestrate the assassination, according to a superseding indictment unsealed Wednesday.  

Gupta allegedly reached out to someone he believed was a criminal associate for assistance with finding a hitman, prosecutors said, noting that the person Gupta reached out to was a source working with the DEA.

The DEA source connected Gupta to the undercover DEA officer who pretended to be a hitman, the indictment stated.

The Indian government employee gave Gupta information about the victim, including phone numbers, the victim’s day-to-day conduct and the victim’s home address in New York City. The government employee offered to pay $100,000 for the assassination, according to the indictment.

“Gupta directed the [purported hitman] to carry out the murder as soon as possible, but Gupta also specifically instructed the [purported hitman] not to commit the murder around the time of anticipated engagements scheduled to occur in the ensuing weeks between high-level U.S. and Indian government officials,” the news release stated.

On June 18, Hardeep Singh Nijjaran, an associate of the victim, was killed by masked gunmen outside of a Sikh temple in British Columbia, Canada, prosecutors said. The following day, Gupta allegedly told the purported hitman that Nijjaran “was also the target” and said they had many other targets, according to prosecutors. Gupta also told the purported hitman that because of Nijjaran’s murder, there was no need to wait to kill the victim, according to prosecutors.

The victim was not named in the court documents. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said the target is “a vocal critic of the Indian government” and leads a U.S.-based organization that advocates for the secession of Punjab, home to a large population of Sikhs.

“The Victim has publicly called for some or all of Punjab to secede from India and establish a Sikh sovereign state called Khalistan, and the Indian government has banned the Victim and his separatist organization from India,” prosecutors said.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
LA County Sheriff identifies three veteran deputies killed in training facility explosion

Three veteran deputies identified after deadly explosion at LA County training facility

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has released the names of the…
Mexico City plans to tackle gentrification after protests against mass tourism

Mexico City to Address Gentrification Amid Protests Against Mass Tourism

On Wednesday, the Mexico City administration unveiled a preliminary strategy to tackle…
DHS accuses 'activist' judge of pushing radical gender ideology by releasing trans migrant

The Department of Homeland Security claims that a ‘activist’ judge is promoting radical gender beliefs by allowing the release of a transgender migrant.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has criticized a federal judge in…
World premiere of 'That's What Friends Are For: Gladys, Dionne And Patti' wows audiences at Black Ensemble Theater in Uptown

Debut of ‘That’s What Friends Are For: Gladys, Dionne And Patti’ Impresses at Black Ensemble Theater in Uptown

CHICAGO (WLS) — The world premiere of “That’s What Friends Are For:…
New: Unearthed Video Provides Smoking Gun for Adam Schiff's Alleged Mortgage Fraud

Breaking: Discovered Footage Reveals Key Evidence in Adam Schiff’s Alleged Mortgage Fraud

With a new president at the helm and the Department of Justice…

Astronomer Initiates Formal Inquiry Into CEO Andy Byron’s Coldplay Concert Kiss Cam Incident

ASTRONOMER has launched a formal investigation into its CEO amid the Coldplay…
Feds' California Home Depot raid nabs 11 illegal migrants, one with 67 prior jail bookings

Federal Authorities Arrest 11 Undocumented Immigrants at California Home Depot; One Individual Has 67 Previous Jail Bookings

Even as California officials resist federal immigration enforcement efforts, Border Patrol agents…
California wildfire victims face uphill battle as corporations and investors swoop in

California Wildfire Survivors Struggle as Big Companies and Investors Move In

Six months following California’s most destructive wildfire, recovery efforts have begun. Properties…
Benny Johnson Pushes Trump's Epstein 'Hoax' Narrative Amid Transparency Demands

Benny Johnson Fully Supports Trump’s Allegations of Epstein ‘Hoax’

Conservative podcaster Benny Johnson is fully endorsing President Donald Trump’s dismissal of…
MAGA! Photograph of Newly Freed Americans Says It All

Powerful Image of Recently Released Americans Captures the Spirit of MAGA!

In a photo shared on X by the U.S. External Office for…
Former UK police officer found guilty in brutal killing of wife who uncovered his double life

Ex-UK Officer Convicted for Wife’s Murder After She Discovered His Secret Life

A former police officer from England has been convicted of murdering his…
Explosion reported at LA Sheriff's facility

Blast Occurs at LA Sheriff’s Office Facility

Aerial footage shows the explosion happened in a parking lot filled with…