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FBI director tells NIA US ‘aggressively’ investigating attack on Indian consulate

The visit of FBI director to India also comes days after US raised an alleged assassination plot of an American citizen with New Delhi.

Statesman News Service | New Delhi | December 12, 2023 10:51 pm | Updated : December 13, 2023 2:29 pm

FBI director tells NIA US ‘aggressively’ investigating attack on Indian consulate

A high-level delegation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)-led by its chief Christopher Wray on Monday held extensive talks with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in New Delhi. During the meeting, they officials of the two premier investigation agencies of India and US discussed several issues relating to the security of the respective countries.

In a statement issued on the meeting, the NIA said that the FBI chief informed that they are “aggressively” investigating the attacks on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco on March 19 and July 2 this year.

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The consulate officers were attacked by Khalistani extremists. During the July 2 attack which took place days after the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the extremists tried to set the Indian consulate on fire.

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“Christopher A Wray, Director FBI, leading a high-level FBI delegation, visited the NIA headquarters on Tuesday and held extensive discussions with NIA DG, Dinkar Gupta, and senior officials…During the meeting, candid and wide-ranging discussions were held on a host of issues, including the acts and activities of Terrorist-Organised Criminal Networks, ongoing investigations in the US in the attack on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, investigation of cyber-terror and cyber-crimes of various kinds,” a NIA spokesperson said in a statement.

“Mr. Wray also informed the NIA that the FBI was aggressively investigating the attack on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco,” the spokesperson added.

The meeting between the chiefs of FBI and NIA also comes in the backdrop of US indictment of an Indian national Nikhil Gupta over the alleged assassination plot of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

The indictment claimed that an Indian government official directed Nikhil Gupta to carry out the assassination of an American citizen on the American soil.

According to reports the issue of the alleged killing plot was also discussed during the meeting of top security officials of both the countries. Besides, extradition of fugitives to India, including Khalistani extremists, was also discussed during the meeting.

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The Kerala High Court, on Thursday, granted bail to M K Nasar, one of the individuals convicted by the special NIA court last year in the case of chopping the hands of Professor T J Joseph in 2010. A division bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice P V Balakrishnan suspended Nasar’s sentence and granted conditional bail to him after considering his appeal against the NIA court’s conviction in the case Considering the prolonged detention and citing the potential for trial delays, the court suspended Nasar’s sentence and granted conditional bail, taking into account that some co-accused with similar allegations had already been released after serving shorter terms. The court noted that he had already spent nine years in jail and that delays in resolving appeals could justify suspending a convict’s prison term. It also observed that other accused in the case had received lesser sentences and had already been released after serving their terms. “The applicant has been undergoing incarceration, at the pre-conviction and post-conviction phases, for over 9 years. Furthermore, the fact that the accused facing the same allegations were earlier imposed a lesser term of imprisonment and have been released after having undergone the sentence is a factor that cannot be ignored. Additionally, the appeals filed by the NIA against the findings of the learned Sessions Judge are being considered in separate appeals, which have not yet been taken up. “There is also the likelihood of delay, as the prime accused has surrendered, and the learned Sessions Judge may have to take up the trial and dispose of it in accordance with the law and some of the original records may be required for that purpose. In view of these facts and circumstances, we are of the considered opinion that the sentence imposed on the applicant can be suspended pending the consideration of the appeal.” The court said The court, however, imposed strict conditions for Nasar’s bail. He is not supposed to provide a bond of Rs 1 lakh with two sureties, refrain from leaving the country without the court’s permission, avoid interfering with the trial or witnesses, and not commit similar offences while on bail The gruesome incident dates back to July 4, 2010, when Joseph, a professor at Newman College, Thodupuzha, was returning from Sunday mass with his family, members of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI) attacked him, allegedly in retaliation for a question paper he set, which contained a passage that they claimed insulted Prophet Mohammed was derogatory. His right hand was chopped off in this attack. Nasar was accused of playing a critical role in the attack. Investigations revealed his involvement in recruiting gang members, assigning specific tasks, collecting funds, procuring communication devices, and maintaining communication links with key conspirators.

The Kerala High Court, on Thursday, granted bail to M K Nasar, one of the individuals convicted by the special NIA court last year in the case of chopping the hands of Professor T J Joseph in 2010.