FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 29, 2023
Contact: Amrita Kaur, Director of Communications media@saldef.org | (202) 332-6700
SALDEF Expresses Grave Concern over Indictment Alleging Indian Government Employee Directed Plot to Assassinate Sikh American
Washington, D.C. – Today, SALDEF (Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund), a leading advocacy group for the rights of Sikh Americans expressed grave concern over reports that an Indian government employee directed a plot from India to assassinate a Sikh American individual.
“We are deeply disturbed by these reports and the potential threat they pose to the safety of our community. Since 2020, SALDEF has been tracking instances of censorship of diasporic Sikh voices and today’s indictment is not an isolated incident but a part of a broader pattern of silencing Sikh voices,” said Kiran Kaur Gill, Executive Director of SALDEF. “If these allegations are true, it would represent a serious violation of international law and be a blatant example of transnational repression.”
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, was charged with conspiracy to commit murder for hire for his alleged role in the plot to kill the Sikh American individual. Gupta is accused of working with an Indian government employee to recruit and pay an assassin to carry out the killing.
On November 22, 2023, following reports of this alleged incident, SALDEF called on the DOJ to increase transparency into the investigation and unseal the indictments in this case. We demand unequivocal cooperation from the Indian government in the DOJ’s investigation and urge the U.S. government to take decisive action against any individuals or entities found to be responsible.
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About SALDEF
The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) is a leading national Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization based in Washington D.C. SALDEF works to build Sikh American capacity through education, fostering community, and civic engagement. By engaging with federal and state leaders, publishing critical policy reports, placing Sikh Americans in government and advocacy internships across the nation, and more, SALDEF is paving a brighter path for future generations. Learn more at www.saldef.org