Indian Govt employee 'indicted' in Pannun case removed : US
The US, in a statement, on the progress of ‘foiled-attempt’ to kill Pro-Khalistan Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has said the official, ‘indicted’ by the Department of Justice, has been ‘removed’ by the Indian Government.
This US statement comes a day after an Indian inquiry team -- probing links of any Indian entities in targeting the Sikh community in the US --- visited the US.
US State Department Spokesperson Mathew Miller answering questions about the Indian inquiry team, said on Wednesday night “they (India) did inform us that the individual who was named in the Department of Justice indictment is no longer an employee of the Indian Government”.
Through Miller did not clarify who he was referring too, however an Indian Government employee is listed as ‘CC-1’ in the Department of Justice ‘indictment’. He is Indian police officer, who was posted in North America.
Miller said the India and US had a meeting on Tuesday. “The US Government broadly – updated members of the Committee of Inquiry (from India) about the investigation that the US has been conducting. We’ve received an update from them ( India) on the investigation that they have been conducting”.
It was a productive meeting, Miller said adding “We are satisfied with the cooperation. It continues to be an ongoing process. We continue to work with them ( India) on that, but we do appreciate the cooperation, and we appreciate them updating us on their investigation as we update them on ours. Separately, the White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby, answering questions on the ongoing case to allegedly target Sikhs said the Indian inquiry committee is visiting here in the US today to deal with the case, specifically.
Kirby added “We have expressed deep concerns about this to our Indian counterparts. They have expressed to us that they are taking it seriously.”
It is something India absolutely needs to take seriously, Kirby said and when asked about the seriousness of the Indian Government on the issue, he added “the inquiry committee coming here is a sign that they’re taking this seriously. Sending over a team here today to talk to the Justice Department to glean and to learn perspectives from us about the U.S. case specifically”.
Kirby said US and India had interactions at various levels, including at the level of the Leaders, about deep concern over this
He said the US would monitor the progress “we’re going to monitor this going forward. We’re going to stay in close touch with (India) as they move forward with their own inquiry, and we’ll be watching closely”.
