The Justice Department has announced criminal charges against an Indian government employee, Vikash Yadav, in connection with a foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader residing in New York City. Yadav, 39, faces murder-for-hire charges for his involvement in the planned assassination, which prosecutors revealed last year. The intended killing was part of a larger scheme to carry out politically motivated murders in the United States and Canada.
Yadav, who is currently at large, has been added to the indictment by the Biden administration to publicly denounce the Indian government's involvement in criminal activities. The FBI has emphasized its zero-tolerance policy towards acts of violence targeting individuals exercising their constitutionally protected rights.
The case has led to diplomatic tensions between India and the West, with recent developments including the expulsion of diplomats and allegations of Indian officials targeting Sikh separatists in Canada. The Indian government has denied these accusations, labeling them as absurd.
The plot was initially disclosed by federal prosecutors last year, leading to charges against Nikhil Gupta, who was recruited by Yadav to orchestrate the assassination. Gupta, an Indian citizen, was extradited to the U.S. from the Czech Republic after his arrest in Prague.
Yadav, a former employee of the Indian government's Cabinet Secretariat, directed the assassination plot from India. He provided Gupta with personal information about the Sikh separatist leader, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, including his address, phone numbers, and daily movements. Pannun, the intended victim, has commended the U.S. government for upholding its duty to protect the life, liberty, and freedom of its citizens.
The indictment signifies the U.S. government's commitment to safeguarding individuals from transnational terrorism and threats to democracy. The case highlights the importance of international cooperation in combating criminal activities that endanger the sovereignty and fundamental rights of individuals.
