Getty ImagesThe United States has charged a former Indian intelligence officer for allegedly directing a plot to assassinate an American citizen who supported Khalistan – an independent Sikh state separated from India.
The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York on Thursday said it has registered “murder-for-hire and money laundering charges” against Vikash Yadav for attempting to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
the indictment by Yadav, for the first time, implicated the Indian government directly in the assassination of a dissident.
The Indian government said it is cooperating with the ongoing US investigation. It is yet to respond to the specific allegations against Yadav.
Earlier this year, Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national also charged in the case, was charged. extradited to the US from prison in Prague.
Washington has accused Indian agents of involvement in the assassination of Pannun, a dual US-Canadian citizen. India calls Pannun a terrorist, although he denies the accusation and claims to be a pro-Khalistan activist.
On Thursday, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal announced that the individual referred to as “CC-1” in the US Department of Justice indictment no longer works for the Indian government. However, he did not provide specific names, making it unclear whether he was referring to Yadav, who is widely speculated to be the same person.
According to the indictment, Yadav was the mastermind behind the plot to murder Pannun and he recruited Gupta in May 2023 to orchestrate the assassination in exchange for dismissal of the case against him in India.
United States Department of Justice“In or around June 2023, in furtherance of the assassination attempt, Yadav provided Gupta with personal information about the victim, including the victim’s home address in New York City, a telephone number associated with victim and detailed information about the victim’s daily life.” daily behavior,” the indictment stated.
Yadav’s indictment came days after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that Indian agents were involved in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, sparked a new controversy that led to both countries expelling diplomats.
India has dismissed the allegations as “ridiculous” and accused Trudeau of pandering to Canada’s large Sikh community for political gain.
Who is Vikash Yadav?
The indictment describes Yadav as a “citizen and resident of India”. He is also called Vikas and Amanat.
It said he was a member of the cabinet secretariat of the Government of India, where the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) – the country’s premier intelligence agency – operates. RAW falls under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
The indictment further states that Yadav described his position as “Senior Field Officer” with responsibility for “security management” and “intelligence”.
It added that he had also served in India’s paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and had received training in “combat vehicles and weapons”.
The US State Department said it was satisfied with India’s cooperation in the investigation into the alleged murder plot.
Meanwhile, India’s relationship with Canada continues to deteriorate as both Delhi and Ottawa repeatedly level accusations against each other.
Mr. Jaiswal said on Thursday that India had repeatedly asked Canada to extradite individuals believed to be part of the Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi was jailed but did not receive a response.
Canadian police allege that Indian government agents are using members of the Bishnoi gang to commit “murders, extortion and acts of violence” and target movement supporters. pro-Khalistan movement. India has denied the allegations and said Canada has not provided any evidence implicating them.
India’s accusations were made in response to Mr. Trudeau’s statement that India had made a “huge mistake” if it was behind the death of a Sikh separatist leader on Canadian soil.
