Federal Prosecutors Charge Indian Intelligence Officer in Assassination Plot
In a significant development, federal prosecutors have unveiled charges against a man they have identified as an Indian intelligence officer, who allegedly attempted to orchestrate an assassination on U.S. soil from abroad. This incident marks a troubling escalation in the response from both the United States and Canada to what they perceive as increasingly reckless actions by a long-time partner country.
The indictment, which was unsealed in Manhattan on Thursday, alleges that the accused, Vikash Yadav, “directed the assassination plot from India.” The target of this sinister plan is Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent Sikh lawyer and political activist based in New York, who has been an outspoken critic of the Indian government and advocates for the secession of the Punjab region from India.
In response to this alarming situation, Mr. Pannun stated that the plot against him represents a “blatant case of India’s transnational terrorism” and poses a significant challenge to America’s sovereignty, as well as a direct threat to freedom of speech and democratic values.
The indictment reveals that Mr. Yadav referred to himself as a “senior field officer” within the Indian government’s intelligence apparatus, specifically linked to its foreign intelligence service, known as the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Authorities have indicated that Mr. Yadav took active steps to recruit an associate tasked with locating a U.S.-based criminal who could carry out the assassination of the Sikh activist.
Last year, U.S. prosecutors charged Nikhil Gupta, the individual alleged to be Mr. Yadav’s accomplice in this plot. Prosecutors highlighted that Mr. Gupta acted under the direction of an unidentified official from the Indian government. The recent charges against Mr. Yadav now signify a critical advancement in this ongoing investigation into the intended assassination.
