India on Thursday strongly reacted to summons issued by a US courtroom to the Indian authorities over the civil swimsuit filed by pro-Khalistan separatist chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun alleging a plot to assassinate him. This included the current killing of a distinguished chief of the Khalistan motion, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in British Columbia.
In addition to the Indian authorities, Pannun additionally sued a number of senior intelligence officers, together with Nationwide Safety Advisor Ajit Doval, former R&AW chief Samant Goel, R&AW agent Vikram Yadav, and Indian businessman Nikhil Gupta. As per the summons, a reply has been sought inside 21 days.
Reacting to Pannun’s lawsuit in opposition to the Indian authorities within the US over an ‘assassination’ try, New Delhi mentioned that the summons was “fully unwarranted.” International Secretary Vikram Misri mentioned that this explicit case has been lodged, but it surely would not change our views in regards to the underlying state of affairs.
“As we have mentioned earlier, these are fully unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations. Now that this explicit case has been lodged, It would not change our views in regards to the underlying state of affairs. I’d solely invite your consideration to the particular person behind this explicit case whose antecedents are well-known. I’d additionally underline the truth that the group so-called that this particular person represents is an illegal group, has been declared as such beneath the Illegal Actions Prevention Act of 1967 and it has been executed so on account of its involvement in anti-national and subversive actions aimed toward disrupting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India,” Misri mentioned through the afternoon briefing.
#WATCH | On designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun filed lawsuit in opposition to Indian govt in US over ‘assassination’ try, International Secretary Vikram Misri says, “As we have mentioned earlier, these are fully unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations. Now that this explicit… pic.twitter.com/qAbYrc177C
— ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2024
Pannun, designated as a terrorist by India, is searching for damages from India’s Nationwide Safety Adviser Ajit Doval, former R&AW chief Samant Goel, R&AW officer Vikram Yadav, and Nikhil Gupta, accused of making an attempt to homicide Pannun. Gupta is at the moment being held in a Brooklyn jail awaiting trial. In response to the Occasions of India, Pannun’s lawsuit, filed in a New York federal district courtroom, claims the Indian authorities was concerned within the assassination plots. India has denied any involvement.
Nijjar was gunned down exterior his gurdwara in Surrey, B.C., in June. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mentioned in September 2023 that the assassination seems to have been ordered by India. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has charged 4 Indian nationals residing in Canada with Nijjar’s homicide.
One of many defendants in Pannun’s lawsuit is Nikhil Gupta, who’s at the moment held in a Brooklyn jail whereas awaiting trial for his alleged involvement in a murder-for-hire plot. The opposite officers—Vikram Yadav, Samant Goel, and Ajit Doval—stay in India and haven’t been charged. “Whereas this motion is simply indicting the foot troopers, this lawsuit is absolutely in opposition to the federal government of India,” Canada based mostly The Globe and Mail quoted Pannun as saying.
