The United States has charged Vikash Yadav, an Ex-Indian intelligence officer for allegedly orchestrating a foiled plot to murder Sikh separatist and Indian critic Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York City.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District, New York announced on Thursday that it has filed ‘murder-for-hire and money laundering charges’ against Yadav.

According to Washington, Indian agents attempted to assassinate Pannun, a dual US-Canadian Citizen. An indictment of Yadav was ordered to be unsealed on Thursday which described Pannun as a critic of the Indian government, a political activist, and an advocate for a separate Sikh homeland.

FBI On Violence

FBI Director Christopher Wray underscored that the agency will not tolerate violence or retaliatory acts against those living in the United States exercising their constitutionally protected rights.

Indictment

Reports stated that the indictment alleged Yadav was an employee of the Indian government at the time, who worked with other Indian and abroad agents to plot against Pannun at the start of May 2023.

Pannun Describes Yadav As A ‘Mid-Tier Soldier’

According to a statement released on Thursday, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun welcomed the indictment of Vikash Yadav but described him as a ‘mid-tier soldier.’ He alleged that Yadav was assigned by Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and former RAW Chief Samant Goel as part of PM Modi’s efforts to dismantle Sikh separatism.

On Wednesday, the US State Department said that India has told them ‘the individual named in the Justice Department indictment is no longer an employee of the Indian government.’