Family of Indian arrested in US murder plan alleges threats, rights violation

Family of Nikhil Gupta, the Indian indicted by the US for allegedly being a part of a conspiracy to kill a Khalistani leader in New York, has told the Supreme Court of India that he is being threatened.

Gupta was arrested in Prague on June 30 by 'American agents'. They said that Nikhil Gupta was not arrested at the immigration as per norm on his arrival in Prague but outside the airport by people claiming to be 'American agents' after all the formalities were over.

His family has claimed that Gupta was arrested illegally and that he is being forced to eat beef and pork despite being a vegetarian.

The family's plea also claims that the Indian Embassy in Prague had not been informed about Gupta's arrest or detention.

He, his family has claimed, was also not allowed to contact his family and his phone was seized.

Gupta's family has asked the Supreme Court to intervene in the matter and also in the process of his extradition to the US.

US federal prosecutors on November 29 charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta with working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh extremist, who is an American and Canadian citizen.

(with PTI inputs)