On October 17, the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) released an indictment of Indian citizen Vikash Yadav for his role in a foiled plot to murder Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil. The charges include murder-for-hire and money laundering. The indictment revealed that 39-year-old Yadav is an employee of the Government of India’s Cabinet Secretariat, which houses India’s foreign intelligence service, the Research and Analysis Wing.
According to the indictment, Yadav, along with co-conspirator Nikhil Gupta, planned to assassinate Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York City in 2023. Pannun, an attorney and activist leading the advocacy group Sikhs For Justice in the U.S., holds dual citizenship in Canada and the U.S.
Yadav allegedly orchestrated the plot from India and directed Gupta to hire a hitman to carry out the murder. After another separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was killed in Canada in June, Gupta reportedly gave the green light for the assassination, which was foiled by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division stated, “Today’s charges highlight the escalation in lethal plotting and violent transnational repression targeting diaspora communities in the U.S. The Department of Justice is committed to disrupting and exposing these plots and holding the wrongdoers accountable, regardless of their identity or location.”
The United States is expected to seek Yadav’s extradition. Gupta, who was extradited to the U.S. in June, pleaded not guilty to the charges. This case sheds light on the complexities of international espionage and the lengths some individuals may go to in order to silence dissenting voices within diaspora communities.
It is crucial for authorities to remain vigilant and proactive in uncovering and preventing such plots to ensure the safety and security of all individuals, especially those who are targeted for their activism and advocacy work. The exposure of this foiled assassination plot serves as a reminder of the importance of international cooperation in combating transnational crimes and upholding justice for all.
