The Division of Justice is pictured on March 22, 2019 in Washington, D.C. The DOJ has charged a former Indian intelligence official for allegedly orchestrating a foiled plot to assassinate an American citizen who’s a pacesetter within the push for an impartial Sikh homeland.
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Drew Angerer/Getty Photographs
A former Indian intelligence official is going through federal fees within the U.S. for allegedly orchestrating a foiled plot to assassinate an American citizen in New York Metropolis who’s a pacesetter within the motion pushing for an impartial Sikh homeland.
The indictment in opposition to Vikash Yadav, unsealed in federal court docket in Manhattan on Thursday, factors to a direct hyperlink between the Indian authorities and what prosecutors say was a murder-for-hire scheme on American soil.
The Justice Division first introduced fees within the case final yr, indicting an Indian nationwide and alleged drug and weapons trafficker, Nikhil Gupta. That indictment additionally referred to an unnamed Indian authorities official whom prosecutors stated directed the scheme.
The brand new indictment unsealed Thursday identifies that official as Yadav and makes him a co-defendant within the case. Yadav and Gupta every face fees of murder-for-hire conspiracy, murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit cash laundering.
Gupta was arrested final yr within the Czech Republic and extradited to the U.S. He has pleaded not responsible. Yadav, in the meantime, stays at giant, in response to the Justice Division.
“The Justice Division can be relentless in holding accountable any individual — no matter their place or proximity to energy — who seeks to hurt and silence Americans,” Legal professional Common Merrick B. Garland stated in an announcement.
The alleged goal
The goal of the alleged plot was Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a twin U.S.-Canadian citizen, lawyer and political activist. He’s the overall counsel of Sikhs for Justice and an advocate for the creation of a Sikh state carved out from northern India.
Sikh separatist chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is pictured in his workplace on Nov. 29, 2023, in New York. Federal prosecutors say a former Indian intelligence official directed a plot to assassinate Pannun in New York Metropolis after he advocated for a sovereign state for Sikhs.
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Ted Shaffrey/AP
Pannun welcomed the indictment in opposition to Yadav, saying the “U.S. authorities has reassured its dedication to basic constitutional obligation to guard the life, liberty and freedom of expression of the U.S. citizen at house and overseas.”
“The try on my life on American soil is the blatant case of India’s transnational terrorism which has turn out to be a problem to America’s sovereignty and menace to freedom of speech and democracy,” Pannun stated in an announcement.
One other Sikh separatist chief was gunned down in Canada
On the identical time that the plot in opposition to Pannun was allegedly in movement, one other Sikh separatist chief and shut affiliate of Pannun, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was gunned down in Canada.
Canadian authorities have arrested 4 Indian nationals in reference to Nijjar’s homicide. This week, Canada stated that India’s prime diplomat within the nation and 5 different Indian diplomats have been individuals of curiosity within the investigation. Canada expelled all six of the Indian diplomats.
Canadian authorities additionally stated that they had discovered proof that Indian diplomats have been concerned in a marketing campaign in opposition to Canadian residents.
“We’ll by no means tolerate the involvement of a international authorities threatening and killing Canadian residents on Canadian soil,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated.
India has rejected the accusations.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with Overseas Minister Mélanie Joly (proper) and Public Security Minister Dominic LeBlanc speaks throughout a press convention on October 14 in Ottawa, after Canada expelled six prime Indian diplomats.
Dave Chan/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
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Dave Chan/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Nijjar’s assassination and the alleged plot in opposition to Pannun has raised questions on India’s actions overseas, and complex the U.S. relationship with India. The Biden administration views India as an vital counterbalance to China.
After the U.S. introduced final yr that it had foiled the try on Pannun’s life, India launched its personal inner inquiry to look into the matter — an effort seen with skepticism in Washington.
This week, Indian officers concerned in that inquiry have been within the U.S. for conferences with their American counterparts to debate the respective investigations. A spokesman for the State Division known as the talks “productive.”
