Indian pleads guilty to terror plot

A 42-year-old Indian, who received asylum in the US, has pleaded guilty to planning terror attacks in India by providing material support and resources to terrorists involved in the Khalistan movement.

Balwinder Singh, a resident of Nevada, pleaded guilty before US District Judge Larry Hicks to one count of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, knowing and intending that such support would be used to carry out terrorist attacks overseas, Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Mary McCord said on Tuesday.

“Singh attempted to provide material support and resources to terrorists to create violence and disruption abroad,” McCord said.

“Identifying, thwarting and holding accountable individuals who pursue international terrorism is a top priority of the Department of Justice,” she said. 

A citizen of India and permanent US resident, Singh went by the aliases of ‘Jhaji’, ‘Happy’ and ‘Baljit Singh’ and has been detained and charged since his arrest in December 2013. He faces the statutory maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and deportation following his release. His sentencing is set for February 27.

His indictment says that Singh obtained asylum in San Francisco using a false identity.

Between September and December 2013, Singh conspired to support terrorist attacks in India as part of a movement to create an independent Sikh state.