New Delhi: A high-powered committee set up by the Indian government has confirmed the involvement of intelligence officer Vikas Yadav in the alleged conspiracy to assassinate Sikh leader Grupatunat Singh Pinan. The move comes amid mounting pressure from the US and Canada for a full investigation into the case.
Created on November 18, 2023, the committee was tasked with investigating reports from the United States on the activities of organized criminal groups and terrorist organizations that threaten US security interests. The U.S. Department of Justice has implicated Yadav in a botched assassination plot that allegedly involved an Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, who was arrested in Prague in June 2023 and later extradited to the American Gupta. In New York, an assassin was hired to kill Panon.
Panun, a well-known lawyer of the Khalistan movement, has long been targeted by the Indian authorities. His dual US-Canadian citizenship and vocal support for Khalistan have made him a controversial figure, especially as India considers the movement a major security threat. The plan to kill Panon comes months after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian officials of complicity in the killing of separatist leader Hardeep Singh Najjar, escalating tensions between India and the West, particularly Canada. Relations have become more strained.
Critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah say such a high-profile covert operation involving foreign intelligence operatives would require approval from the highest levels of government. Links between the plot and the killing of Hardeep Singh Nanjar in Canada have raised doubts about a concerted strategy by the Modi administration to crack down on dissidents abroad, particularly those advocating for Khalistan. The allegations have sparked calls for an international probe into India’s role in extrajudicial operations against its critics.
The Washington Post, in its December 31, 2024 publication, highlighted India’s involvement in secret killings outside its borders, particularly in Pakistan, where India is accused of conducting a campaign of targeted killings.
