The government has also flagged to the US and Canada concerns about threats by Pannun to attack Parliament as well as dissuade people abroad from boarding Air India flights.
“Pannun is wanted by our agencies for violation of a law. There is a process by which we seek assistance. Requests have gone through detailing the crimes he is responsible for in India and hence what kind of assistance we would require from foreign countries,’’ said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi when asked if India has demanded that the US arrest and prosecute Pannun.
Pannun has been booked in two dozen cases in Punjab for sedition, rioting and terror. However, the Interpol has twice rejected India’s request for issuing a red corner notice against Pannun.
On Pannun’s latest threat to attack Parliament, the spokesperson said, “Yes, we do take threats seriously depending on the context. In the specific case about Parliament…. we are caught in a bind here. I don’t want to amplify or give too much credence to such extremists who make threats and get lots of coverage. We have taken up the matter with US and Canadian authorities’’ he observed.
US media has reported that CIA Director William Burns and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines had visited India in August and October, respectively, to demand a probe and hold those responsible for the “lethal plotting’’ to account.
Wray will visit soon after US Principal Deputy NSA Jonathan Finer’s New Delhi trip where he brought up the Pannun issue, according to a US readout. Finer had met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra and Deputy NSA Vikran Misri.
FBI Director Christopher Wray will visit India next week against the backdrop of Washington’s allegations about an Indian link to a foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist on American soil.
US ambassador to India Eric Garcetti referred to Wray’s upcoming visit at an event on Wednesday while talking about the strength of US-India relationship and frequency of visits to New Delhi by top Biden administration officials.
“This was the Number 1 country she (US Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen) went to outside of the United States—four times this year. The Secretary of State (Antony Blinken) just came here for the third time. Secretary of Defense (Lloyd Austin) for the second time. The FBI director is here next week,” he said.
It is expected that Wray will hold talks with senior Indian security officials.
The Washington Post last week reported that the Biden Administration was so concerned after discovering the plot to kill Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun that it sent CIA Director William J Burns and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines to India in August and October, respectively, to demand investigation and hold those responsible to account.
US Principal Deputy NSA Jonathan Finer visited India this week during which he held talks with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra and Deputy NSA Vikran Misri.
Following the visit, the White House said Finer conveyed to New Delhi the importance of holding accountable anyone found responsible in the probe announced by India to investigate the alleged Indian link to the “lethal plotting”.
Last week, India described as a “matter of concern” the US linking an Indian official to a man charged with conspiring to kill Pannun.
It said follow up action will be taken based on findings of an inquiry panel investigating the allegations.
India has already constituted a probe team to investigate the allegations.
The US federal prosecutors charged Nikhil Gupta, 52, of working with an Indian government employee in the conspiracy to kill Pannun.
