Facing Indictment in US Over Khalistan Leader Plot, Vikash Yadav Claims Life Threats to Skip Court

Facing Indictment in US Over Khalistan Leader Plot, Vikash Yadav Claims Life Threats to Skip Court

Indian national Vikash Yadav has been charged by the U.S. Department of Justice for allegedly planning the assassination of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a well-known Khalistan separatist, in New York. Yadav, who is said to be a former employee of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), is accused of working with co-conspirator Nikhil Gupta to hire a hitman for the job. The scheme was thwarted when Gupta inadvertently hired an undercover DEA agent posing as a hitman.

The indictment states that Yadav supplied detailed surveillance information regarding Pannun’s activities and consented to pay $100,000 for the assassination, with an initial payment of $15,000. It further alleges that Yadav instructed Gupta to refrain from executing the plan during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the U.S. in June 2023. Gupta was apprehended in the Czech Republic and subsequently extradited to the U.S., while Yadav is still at large in India.

Pannun, an outspoken advocate for Punjab’s secession from India, expressed gratitude to U.S. authorities for their protection but claimed that senior Indian officials were part of the conspiracy. India has refuted any government-level involvement, highlighting that Yadav is no longer in official service, and asserted that any individuals involved acted on their own.

Vikash Yadav, a former Indian intelligence officer, has been charged in the United States for allegedly plotting to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a well-known Khalistan separatist leader and U.S. citizen. The charges against him include murder-for-hire and money laundering. Yadav, who was reportedly collaborating with a co-conspirator, tried to hire a hitman, who was actually an undercover DEA agent. The scheme was discovered before it could be executed.

Yadav has expressed worries about his safety, pointing to the public release of his personal information and the threats to his life. He has asked for an exemption from appearing in court. His legal team has suggested holding remote hearings to safeguard his location.

This situation has heightened tensions between India and the U.S., with Pannun claiming it highlights India’s efforts to stifle dissent overseas. The incident comes amid wider diplomatic strains, including accusations of India’s role in other targeted killings of Sikhs.

Also Read :Canada ends fast-track student visas, big blow to applicants from India