Ex-Indian Spy charged by USA over Links to Sikh Separatist Murder Plot

The United States has charged a former Indian spy for allegedly leading a foiled plot to murder a Sikh separatist leader in New York City.

According to the indictment, Vikash Yadav was a former officer in India’s Research and Analysis Wing spy service.

Indian agents were allegedly involved in an attempted assassination plot against Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual US-Canadian citizen.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said: “The FBI will not tolerate acts of violence or other efforts to retaliate against those residing in the US for exercising their constitutionally protected rights.”

In May 2023, Yadav allegedly worked with others in India and abroad to direct a plot against Pannun.

The indictment described Pannun as a political activist, a critic of the Indian government and an advocate for a separate homeland for Sikhs.

India has labelled Sikh separatists as “terrorists” and threats to its security.

Yadav was still in India and the US was expected to seek his extradition.

According to the indictment, Yadav hired an Indian national named Nikhil Gupta, who has previously been charged with trying to arrange the murder of Pannun at the behest of the Indian intelligence official.

Yadav hired Gupta “to orchestrate the assassination of the victim in the United States”.

Gupta travelled from India to Prague in June 2023 and was arrested by Czech authorities before being extradited to the US where he pleaded not guilty.

The indictment charged Yadav with “murder-for-hire and money laundering”.

In a statement, Pannun welcomed Yadav’s indictment, describing him as a “mid-tier soldier” who was allegedly assigned by Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and then RAW Chief Samant Goel as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goal to dismantle Sikh separatism.

An Indian government committee investigating Indian involvement in the foiled murder plot met with US officials, which was described as productive.

Without giving further details, the US State Department said India informed the US that “the individual who was named in the Justice Department indictment is no longer an employee of the Indian government”.

The US had been pushing India to look into the US Justice Department’s claims that an Indian intelligence official directed plans to kill Pannun.

This is not the only instance of India’s alleged targeting of Sikh separatists on foreign soil.

Canada expelled Indian diplomats over alleged links to the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has denied the allegations and has also ordered the expulsion of Canadian diplomats.

According to the US Justice Department, Nijjar and Pannun were associates.