An Indian government worker has been charged in a plot to assassinate a US citizen in New York, escalating tensions between the two nations. Vikash Yadav, a former Indian intelligence officer, was named by federal prosecutors for the first time in Thursday’s superseding indictment. He faces charges including money laundering, conspiracy, and leading a murder-for-hire scheme. Yadav’s alleged co-conspirator, Nikhil Gupta, has already been charged and extradited to the US.
According to law enforcement officials, Yadav is believed to be the mastermind behind the assassination plot. The target of the scheme was Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a US and Canadian citizen who advocates for the creation of the independent Sikh state of Khalistan through his organization, Sikhs for Justice. The group is banned in India, where Pannun is considered a terrorist.
Yadav allegedly recruited Gupta in May 2023 to orchestrate the killing. Gupta, at Yadav’s direction, contacted an associate who turned out to be a confidential source for the Drug Enforcement Administration. Gupta was then introduced to an undercover officer posing as a hitman. The indictment states that Yadav provided Gupta with Pannun’s personal information and urged the hitman to carry out the killing promptly.
The foiled assassination plot unfolded shortly before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US. Amidst the escalating tensions, Canadian officials publicly alleged India’s involvement in broader campaigns of violence against Indian dissidents. The incident highlights concerns about India’s efforts to suppress dissent globally.
The Justice Department’s public confrontation with New Delhi over the thwarted assassination attempt underscores the gravity of the situation. Officials express alarm at the increase in violent transnational repression targeting diaspora communities in the US. DEA Administrator Anne Milgram condemned Yadav’s alleged abuse of authority and access to confidential information to direct the attempted assassination on US soil.
While no direct links have been established between the threat against Pannun and a murder in Canada, parallels in the cases have raised suspicions of a wider coordinated effort by India to silence dissent. The indictment serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by political violence and highlights the importance of holding individuals accountable for attempting to harm American citizens.