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In a significant development, the United States has charged Vikash Yadav, a former intelligence officer in India, with orchestrating a failed assassination plot against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an American citizen advocating for Khalistan, an independent Sikh state envisioned in India.
The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced on Thursday that Yadav faced severe charges, including “murder-for-hire and money laundering,” related to his attempt to kill Pannun. This indictment marks a pivotal moment, as it explicitly implicates the Indian government in the assassination attempt of a dissident for the first time.
While the Indian government has stated its willingness to collaborate with US authorities during the ongoing investigation, it has yet to formally respond to the specific allegations involving Yadav.
Earlier in the year, Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national also implicated in this case, was extradited to the US from a facility in Prague. Washington has accused Indian operatives of attempting to assassinate Pannun, who holds dual US-Canadian citizenship. The Indian government has categorized Pannun as a terrorist; however, he denies these claims, asserting that he is an activist for Khalistan.
On Thursday, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s foreign ministry, indicated that the individual referred to as “CC-1” in the US indictment is no longer connected to the Indian government. He refrained from disclosing a name, leaving speculation regarding Yadav unresolved.
The indictment alleges that Yadav was the principal architect of the assassination scheme, recruiting Gupta as early as May 2023 with promises of dismissing a case against him in India in exchange for his involvement.
According to the document, Yadav took substantial steps toward executing the assassination plot in June 2023. He allegedly furnished Gupta with confidential information concerning Pannun, including his residential address in New York City and contact numbers, as well as insights into Pannun’s daily routines.
The timing of Yadav’s indictment coincides with recent allegations from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who claimed that Indian agents were involved in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader in Surrey, British Columbia. This claim has intensified tensions, leading both nations to expel diplomats in a show of diplomatic discontent.
India has dismissed Trudeau’s allegations as “preposterous,” suggesting that the Prime Minister is leveraging the situation to appeal to Canada’s sizable Sikh community for political benefit.
Who is Vikash Yadav?
The indictment portrays Yadav as a “citizen and resident of India,” also known by names like Vikas and Amanat. He is described as affiliated with the Government of India’s cabinet secretariat, an umbrella group under which the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India’s premier intelligence agency, operates. This organization, which falls under the auspices of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), has been a focal point of India’s intelligence operations.
According to the charges, Yadav claimed to hold the position of “Senior Field Officer,” responsible for “security management” and “intelligence.” His background also includes service in India’s paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), where he received specialized training in combat and weaponry.
The US State Department has expressed satisfaction with the Indian government’s cooperation regarding the investigation into the purported assassination scheme.
Meanwhile, diplomatic relations between India and Canada continue to deteriorate amid reciprocal accusations. Mr. Jaiswal articulated India’s frustrations on Thursday, highlighting the government’s repeated requests for the extradition of individuals believed to be tied to Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s organization, to which Canada reportedly has not responded.
Canadian law enforcement has alleged that Indian agents are utilizing members of Bishnoi’s gang to execute “homicides, extortions, and other violent acts,” particularly targeting advocates of the pro-Khalistan movement. In response, India has refuted these claims, asserting that no substantial evidence has been presented by Canada to support such accusations.
India’s assertions regarding these criminal connections come in response to Prime Minister Trudeau’s claims that the Indian government made a “massive mistake” if it was indeed involved in the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader on Canadian soil.
Source
www.bbc.com