The US federal prosecutors have charged an Indian government official with orchestrating a plot to murder a Sikh activist in New York City, which could potentially escalate tensions with New Delhi. The Department of Justice has accused Vikash Yadav, described as a “senior field officer” in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration, of directing a “murder-for-hire” scheme from India. The plot involved paying a hitman $100,000 to assassinate a US-Canadian citizen who was part of a separatist movement advocating for an independent Sikh state. The target of the foiled plot was confirmed to be Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, general counsel for US-based group Sikhs for Justice.
The Indian embassy in Washington has not responded to the indictment. According to prosecutors, Yadav oversaw a scheme to kill Pannun, providing his address in New York and phone numbers to the would-be assassin, who turned out to be an undercover US agent. In June 2023, Yadav was also allegedly involved in communicating about the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an associate of Pannun’s and a fellow Sikh activist, in a suburb of Vancouver, Canada. Yadav sent a video of Nijjar’s body to an associate and forwarded a news article about Pannun, indicating it as a priority.
In a statement, Pannun expressed gratitude for the US government’s efforts in protecting its citizens. He described the attempt on his life as a clear example of India’s transnational terrorism, posing a threat to America’s sovereignty, freedom of speech, and democracy. Pannun labeled Yadav as a “mid-tier soldier” following orders from India’s national security adviser, Ajit Doval.
These charges against Yadav come at a time of heightened tensions between Canada and India, as both countries recently expelled each other’s diplomats. The dispute began when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested last year that there were credible allegations of Indian government involvement in Nijjar’s death, which New Delhi vehemently denied.
US assistant attorney-general Matthew Olsen emphasized the severity of the charges against Yadav, highlighting the increase in lethal plotting and violent transnational repression targeting diaspora communities in the United States. He reiterated the Department of Justice’s commitment to exposing and disrupting such plots, holding the wrongdoers accountable.