The U.S. has charged a former Indian intelligence officer in connection with a thwarted assassination plot against a Sikh separatist in New York City last year. Vikash Yadav, who was previously associated with India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), faces serious allegations following the unsealing of an indictment, as reported by the Washington Post.
On October 17, the indictment against Yadav was made public, marking a significant shift in U.S. policy towards holding a key ally accountable for alleged violent acts on American soil. U.S. officials have suggested that Indian operatives were involved in a plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist leader.
The report indicates that U.S. officials had been reluctant to charge Yadav, likely to preserve diplomatic relations with India while encouraging a thorough investigation by Indian authorities. On Tuesday, a committee from the Indian government responsible for examining its potential role in the foiled assassination met with U.S. officials in Washington, who described the meeting as productive.
Yadav, 39, is charged with “murder-for-hire and money laundering” related to the scheme to kill Pannun, a U.S. citizen of Indian origin residing in New York, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice.
This development comes in the wake of Canada’s recent decision to expel six Indian diplomats over their alleged involvement in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh activist.
Pannun is a prominent figure in the Khalistan movement, serving as a legal advisor and spokesperson for Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a group advocating for an independent Sikh state. The Indian government has designated him as a terrorist.
Additionally, the Indian government confirmed the removal of an official linked to the indictment, as announced by external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. This action followed indications from the U.S. State Department that India had notified Washington about the official’s departure. When asked for further details, Jaiswal stated that the official, referred to as “CC-1” in the indictment, is no longer employed by the government but did not provide additional information about their current status.
