Valuable India-US Engagement On Murder Plot: Vedant Patel
WASHINGTON, DC (ANI) – The US has said there was “valuable engagement” with India’s inquiry committee last week and information was exchanged between the governments to further their respective investigations regarding the foiled assassination plot of the US-based Khalistani Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
While addressing a media briefing on October 22, spokesperson Vedant Patel stated that the US understands that Indian inquiry committee will continue its investigation and expects to see further steps based on conversation held between officials of two nations last week.
On being asked about the US message to India, Patel stated, “So, to take a step back, there was valuable engagement with India’s inquiry committee last week, and information was exchanged between our two governments to further our respective investigations. We understand that the Indian inquiry committee will continue its investigation, and we expect to see further steps based on last week’s conversations.”
“We continue to expect and want to see accountability based on the results of that investigation, and certainly the United States won’t be fully satisfied until there is meaningful accountability resulting from that investigation. Beyond that, I’m just not going to address this in further detail given that this is an issue that is active and remains under investigation and ongoing under both of our countries,” he added.
Pannun is an India-designated terrorist who holds American and Canadian citizenship.
India in November last year formed a high-level inquiry committee to address the security concerns highlighted by the US government.
Indian national Nikhil Gupta is accused of being involved in the plot and is in jail.
On October 17, the US Justice Department announced the filing of murder-for-hire and money laundering charges against a former Indian government employee, Vikash Yadav, in connection with the murder plot.