The US and Canada collaborate to probe alleged Indian government campaign against Sikh separatists.
The United States and Canada have taken legal action against an individual identified as an Indian intelligence officer for allegedly planning an assassination on American soil. The accused, Vikash Yadav, allegedly orchestrated the plot from India, targeting a New York-based critic of the Indian government, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh lawyer and political activist advocating for secession in the Punjab region of India.
The indictment, revealed in Manhattan, accuses Yadav of directing the assassination plot and identifying himself as a senior field officer in India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), its foreign intelligence service. Authorities claim that Yadav recruited an associate, Nikhil Gupta, to find a U.S.-based criminal to carry out the murder of the Sikh activist. Gupta was previously charged by U.S. prosecutors for his involvement in the plot under instructions from an unidentified Indian government employee. Now, Yadav faces charges for orchestrating the assassination plan.
The victim, Pannun, described the plot as an act of India’s transnational terrorism, challenging America’s sovereignty and threatening freedom of speech and democracy. The case highlights the escalating response from the U.S. and Canada towards what they perceive as unlawful actions by a longstanding partner, India.
The indictment underscores the seriousness of the allegations and the potential impact on diplomatic relations between the countries involved. The legal proceedings against Yadav and Gupta signify a significant development in addressing cross-border crimes and ensuring accountability for individuals involved in such activities.
Source: The NY Times
