US Charges Former Indian Intel Officer in Plot to Assassinate Sikh Separatist Leader
The US Justice Department has indicted a former Indian intelligence officer, Vikash Yadav, for his alleged role in a foiled plot to murder Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on US soil. The charges mark a significant escalation in tensions between India and the US, in addition to deteriorating relations with Canada over the case.
Yadav, a 39-year-old former cabinet secretariat official and RAW officer, is accused of directing the plot from India, using his government connection to facilitate the crime. He allegedly provided personal information about Pannun to his accomplice, Nikhil Gupta, who in turn hired a hitman - who turned out to be a law enforcement officer working undercover with the DEA - to carry out the killing. The plot was foiled when the hitman was unaware that he was dealing with an undercover officer, not an actual hitman. The FBI describes Pannun as a US citizen exercising his right to free speech, while India labels him a terrorist.
Yadav is also implicated in another plot to assassinate Pannun in June 2023, reportedly using his government position to facilitate the crime. India has maintained that the government does not conduct extraterritorial killings, and has distanced itself from the plot. However, the US State Department claims that India is cooperating with the investigation, while India has denied any involvement, and its foreign minister stated that CCD1, a senior official, is no longer employed by the government.
The case comes as relations between India and Canada deteriorate further following the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The US may pursue extradition of Yadav, as he remains at large in India. Pannun, who has been advocating for the creation of an independent Sikh state, Khalistan, has welcomed the US indictment and alleged that top Indian officials instructed Yadav to murder him. The case highlights the complex web of international relations, as the international community closely watches the unfolding diplomacy between the US, India, and Canada.
