U.S. Charges Indian Man With Plotting to Kill Sikh Activist in New York

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan on Wednesday charged an Indian national with an attempt to kill a Sikh separatist — and U.S. citizen — in New York City, allegations that could complicate delicate American and Indian relations.

The murder-for-hire charges against the man, Nikhil Gupta, 52, were announced by the Justice Department days after American officials had expressed concerns to the Indian government about the assassination plot against the separatist.

And they came just months after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada accused the Indian government of involvement in the June killing of another Sikh separatist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Vancouver.

The target of the planned attack in New York was identified by American officials as Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is general counsel for the New York-based advocacy group Sikhs for Justice.

Mr. Pannun is an outspoken proponent of independence for the northern Indian state of Punjab, which is home to a large number of Sikhs.

Mr. Gupta had been detained by authorities in the Czech Republic in late June, according to the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

The plot involved several accomplices, including an Indian government employee who had a background in law enforcement, federal prosecutors in New York said.

That individual, who was not identified, is accused of recruiting Mr. Gupta, who prosecutors say then hired a hit man to kill Mr. Pannun and provided personal information about him, including his home address in New York City and details about his daily activities.

That for-hire killer, however, turned out to be an “undercover U.S. law enforcement officer,” according to the Southern District.

Mr. Gupta faces charges of “murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire,” prosecutors said, with each count carrying a potential sentence of 10 years in prison.

Efforts to reach him and his lawyers on Wednesday were not immediately successful.

Julian E. Barnes contributed reporting.

This is a developing story and will be updated.