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The United States has charged Vikash Yadav, a former Indian government employee, with directing a foiled plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent Sikh separatist figure. This case has significantly strained relations between India and the United States, echoing a similar incident in Canada involving the killing of another Sikh separatist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The alleged plot, which involved hiring a hitman, is believed to have been orchestrated by Yadav, who previously served as a “Senior Field Officer” in India's intelligence service, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW).
Yadav, operating under the aliases “Vikas” and “Amanat,” allegedly recruited Nikhil Gupta, another Indian national, to locate a hitman for the assassination. Gupta, who was arrested in the Czech Republic last year, is currently being detained in Brooklyn. The indictment reveals that Yadav provided Gupta with crucial information, including Pannun's residential addresses, phone numbers, and other identifying details, to facilitate the execution of the plot. This information was allegedly used by Gupta to identify and contact an individual who agreed to carry out the assassination. The individual, who was an informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), demanded a payment of $100,000 for the job, receiving a $15,000 advance payment on June 9, 2023.
The alleged assassination plot against Pannun, a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen who advocates for the creation of a separate Sikh state, Khalistan, is believed to have been ordered by the former head of the R&AW and sanctioned by senior intelligence officials with ties to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's inner circle, according to the Washington Post. The indictment further suggests a link between the Pannun plot and the killing of Nijjar in Canada. Prosecutors have uncovered communication between Yadav, Gupta, and the alleged perpetrator in both incidents, highlighting a possible connection between the two cases. Yadav, who remains at large, is suspected of being involved in both plots. The incident has sparked a diplomatic crisis between India and Canada, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly accusing Indian agents of being involved in Nijjar's assassination. The revelation has raised concerns about India's intelligence operations and its potential involvement in extrajudicial killings of political opponents.
The U.S. indictment against Yadav adds to the already strained relations between India and Canada, which have been further complicated by the Nijjar case. The incident has highlighted the potential for abuse of power by intelligence agencies and the need for transparency and accountability in their operations. The ongoing investigations into both the Pannun and Nijjar cases will likely continue to shape the diplomatic landscape between India and its Western allies, potentially leading to further tensions and diplomatic disputes.
Source: Who is Vikash Yadav: Indian charged in Pannun assassination plot