US charges Indian national in plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun: Report

Federal prosecutors in the United States (US) charged an Indian national in a plot to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, American media reported on Thursday (Oct 17).

The Indian national was identified as Vikash Yadav, 39. An indictment unsealed in Manhattan on Thursday said that Yadav “directed the assassination plot from India” that targeted Pannun, a report by The New York Times (NYT) said.

Citing the indictment, the report said that Yadav called himself a senior field officer in the part of the Indian government that includes its foreign intelligence service, known as the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW).

As per authorities, Yadav recruited an associate to find a US-based criminal to arrange the murder of Pannun. 

Last year, prosecutors charged the man accused of being Yadav’s henchman, Nikhil Gupta, and said Gupta had acted under instructions from an unidentified employee of the Indian government. Now, prosecutors have charged Yadav with orchestrating the plot.

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

In a statement on Thursday, Pannun welcomed the indictment of Yadav but described him as a “mid-tier soldier” who the Khalistani terrorist alleged was 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.

These developments come after Canada on Monday expelled Indian diplomats, linking them to the 2023 murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.

India also ordered the expulsion of Canadian diplomats and denies Canada’s allegations.

(With inputs from agencies)