The US Justice Department has accused an Indian RAW officer of conspiring to murder Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu. This claim was made before a US court in New York on Thursday. It said that this incident happened during and around the state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi last summer. US officials have identified the accused as 39-year-old Vikas Yadav. He worked in the Cabinet Secretariat, which houses the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India's foreign intelligence service. It is believed that Yadav is no longer a government employee. He has been charged with three counts, including murder as a mercenary and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Nikhil Gupta, a co-conspirator in the Pannu case, was arrested from Czechoslovakia last year. After extradition from here, he is lodged in an American jail. US Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said, 'These allegations are serious. The Justice Department will not tolerate efforts to target, endanger Americans, and undermine the rights that every American citizen is entitled to. A statement has also come from FBI Director Christopher Ray. He said, 'The Indian government employee allegedly conspired with a criminal associate. An attempt was made to assassinate an American citizen on American soil.
What is the stand of the Government of India on the matter?
It is noteworthy that the Indian government has denied any involvement in the conspiracy to kill an American citizen on American soil. New Delhi has also formed a committee to investigate America's allegations. The Indian Investigation Committee formed in connection with the alleged failed conspiracy to murder Sikh separatist Pannu held a meeting with officials in America. After this, India said on Thursday that it has taken the information given by the US very seriously. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that the accused person is no longer an employee of the Government of India. The US had earlier said that the Indian government has shown seriousness in dealing with the allegations of conspiracy to murder Pannu.
