NEVADA: An Indian citizen residing in northern Nevada was sentenced to 15 years in prison in the United States after pleading guilty to plotting terror attacks near the India-Pakistan border.
FBI Special Agent Aaron Rouse of Las Vegas said the plot was foiled after a co-conspirator was arrested trying to board a flight in San Francisco bound for Bangkok, with two sets of night vision goggles purchased by Balwinder Singh at a sporting goods store in Reno.
US District Judge Larry Hicks in Reno on Tuesday also ordered Singh, 41, to remain under lifetime federal supervision upon his release from prison after prosecutors argued that the accused has had ties to known terrorist groups in India for more than two decades.
Considering Singh has already spent three years in custody, the 41-year-old should be released in about 10 years if he earns good credit, according to assistant US Attorney Brian Sullivan. “This isn’t somebody who was just recruited like some of the young people who think it’s really cool to go get involved with the Jihad,” Sullivan said. “Singh has been involved with terrorism or terrorist organisations for over 20 years.”
“We are hoping he has learned a lesson. But we think he needs to be watched not just for three or four years, but for his entire lifetime,” he added.
Singh agreed to plead guilty in a deal which dropped other charges, including conspiracy to murder, kidnap or maim persons in a foreign country. “My only request is I should not be deported. I should be released here,” Singh said during the hearing.
