The United States has charged Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, for his alleged involvement in a foiled plot to assassinate a pro-Khalistan leader in New York.

The target remains unnamed in court documents. The indictment suggests that Gupta, directed by an Indian government employee, orchestrated the murder-for-hire plot from India.

The US Attorney, Damian Williams, emphasised the gravity of the situation, stating, “We will not tolerate efforts to assassinate US citizens on US soil.”

The White House, having raised the issue with the Indian government at the “senior-most levels,” noted India’s response with “surprise and concern.”

The case adds a layer of complexity to longstanding tensions surrounding demands for a separate Sikh homeland, known as Khalistan, by Sikh leaders.