The United States has charged an Indian government employee for involvement in an alleged plot to kill a prominent Sikh separatist advocate in New York. The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced the charges on Thursday, which include “murder-for-hire and money laundering” against Vikash Yadav.
According to US authorities, another suspect, Nikhil Gupta, was extradited to the US earlier this year to face similar charges, while Yadav remains at large. FBI Director Christopher Wray stated, “Yadav, an Indian government employee, allegedly conspired with a criminal associate in an attempt to assassinate a US citizen for exercising their First Amendment rights. The FBI will not tolerate acts of violence aimed at retaliating against individuals for exercising their constitutionally protected rights.”
The case involves an alleged plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh American activist and legal adviser for Sikhs for Justice. Pannun is a vocal proponent of Sikh separatism, a movement that India considers a threat to its sovereignty. In recent years, India has increased its efforts to pressure countries with significant Sikh populations, such as Canada, the US, and the UK, to suppress the movement.
The Indian government has not yet responded to the allegations.
