New Delhi: A high-powered committee established by the Indian government has confirmed the involvement of intelligence official Vikas Yadav in a plot to assassinate Sikh leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. This revelation comes amid increasing pressure from the United States and Canada for a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
According to a statement by Kashmir Media Service, the committee was formed on November 18, 2023, to examine reports from the U.S. concerning activities of organized criminal groups and terrorist organizations that threaten American security interests. The U.S. Department of Justice has implicated Yadav in the foiled assassination plot, which allegedly involved Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national arrested in Prague in June 2023 and subsequently extradited to the U.S. Gupta reportedly arranged for an assassin to target Pannun in New York.
Pannun, a vocal advocate for the Khalistan movement, has been a long-standing target of Indian authorities. His dual U.S.-Canadian citizenship and outspoken support for Khalistan have made him a contentious figure, particularly as India considers the movement a significant security threat. The plot against Pannun follows Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s previous accusations of Indian involvement in the killing of separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, further complicating relations between India and Western nations, especially Canada.
Critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah contend that a covert operation of such magnitude, involving foreign intelligence operatives, would likely require approval at the highest levels of government. The connections between this plot and the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada have led to suspicions of a coordinated strategy by the Modi administration to silence dissenters abroad, particularly those advocating for Khalistan. These allegations have fueled demands for an international investigation into India’s role in extrajudicial actions against its critics.
The Washington Post, in its December 31, 2024 publication, emphasized India’s involvement in covert killings beyond its borders, notably in Pakistan, where India is accused of orchestrating targeted assassinations. These operations, attributed to India’s intelligence agency RAW, have sparked concerns about the broader repercussions of India’s foreign policy and its strategy to counter Pakistan’s influence, particularly in relation to the Kashmir conflict.
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