The U.S. has officially charged an ex-Indian intelligence officer in connection with a thwarted assassination plot targeting a Sikh separatist in New York City last year. Vikash Yadav, previously affiliated with India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), now faces serious allegations following the unsealing of an indictment, as reported by the Washington Post.
US charges Vikash Yadav in connection with foiled assassination attempt
On October 17, Thursday, the indictment against Vikash Yadav, a former officer in India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), was made public according to WP. This action represents a big change in the U.S. stance on holding an important ally responsible for suspected acts of violence occurring on American soil. Washington has claimed that Indian operatives were implicated in a plot to assassinate Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
The report noted that U.S. officials had been hesitant to charge Yadav, likely to maintain positive relations with India and to push for a thorough investigation by the Indian authorities. On Tuesday, a committee from the Indian government, responsible for looking into its potential role in the foiled murder plot, met with U.S. officials in Washington, and American representatives described the meeting as productive.
Yadav, 39, is charged with “murder-for-hire and money laundering” linked with the scheme to “kill the Sikh separatist leader, a US citizen of Indian origin who lives in New York, the department said in a statement,” according to AP.
The timing is significant as it follows Canada’s recent decision to expel six Indian diplomats due to their alleged involvement in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh activist.
Pannun is an India-designated terrorist
Pannun is a key figure in the Khalistan movement. He maintains himself as a legal advisor and spokesperson for Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a group that promotes the establishment of an independent Sikh state. The Indian government has labeled him a terrorist.
Earlier, the Indian government confirmed the removal of an official linked to an indictment filed by U.S. prosecutors, as announced by external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
The recent move by the US came shortly after the U.S. State Department indicated that India had informed Washington about the official’s departure. When pressed for details, Jaiswal confirmed that the official, referred to as “CC-1” in the indictment, is no longer employed by the government but reframed from providing additional information about their current status.
