‘Unfounded… no evidence so far’: Russia on US claims of Indian official plotting to kill Pannun

At a time when the United States has accused an Indian intelligence official of planning and directing a plot, from India, to allegedly kill Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York, Russia has called Washington’s remarks “unfounded accusations” as they haven’t provided any “credible information” or “evidence” so far.

Addressing a press briefing, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said: “Washington has not given any credible information or evidence so far that Indian citizens are involved in the plot to kill Pannun. Since there is not evidence, they are not acceptable and they are regular groundless accusations by the US against New Delhi.”

Hitting out at the US government, Zakharova further said, “Washington lacks a simple understanding of India’s national mentality and history, as America continues to make unfounded accusations about religious freedoms. Washington’s actions clearly constitute interference in India’s internal affairs… They are not respecting India as a state.”

“Unfounded Accusations:” US Aims to Destabilise India During #LokSabha2024 – Russian Foreign Ministry

Spox Maria Zakharova has said Washington lacks simple understanding of India’s national mentality and history, as America continues to make “unfounded accusations” about… pic.twitter.com/M8G0gtiP92

— RT_India (@RT_India_news) May 8, 2024

In November last year, the US, via an indictment filed by the US Department of Justice in a federal court in Manhattan, had said that an Indian official was working with 52-year-old Indian citizen Nikhil Gupta, also known as Nick, who was arrested by Czech authorities on June 30 this year and was charged with murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire.

The indictment alleged that the official — who has not been named and is referred to as CC-1 — is an Indian government agency employee who has described himself as a “Senior Field Officer” with responsibilities in “Security Management” and “Intelligence.” In or about May 2023, the Indian official “recruited Gupta to orchestrate the assassination” of Pannun in the US, the indictment said. It added that the official assured Gupta that “your Gujarat (case) had been “taken care of” and “nobody will ever bother you again.” He further offered to arrange a meeting between Gupta and a “DCP” (Deputy Commissioner of Police).

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