The Government of India has confirmed its cooperation with the United States regarding charges against an Indian national accused of plotting to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who resides in New York City. Top sources clarified that no such individual is associated with Indian intelligence agencies, contrary to claims made by the US.
Sources further emphasized that Indian intelligence agencies do not employ hitmen and raised the possibility that Vikash Yadav, the individual named by the US, may have a personal issue with Pannun.
“It is crucial to investigate the whereabouts of this individual and understand his personal issue with Pannun. Pannun has been regularly spreading hatred and speaking out against India. This person may have a personal grievance with Pannun due to his actions,” top intelligence sources stated.
They added, “Given the recent incidents of Indian flags being burned, it seems some individuals have turned this into a personal battle with Pannun, as we’ve observed in the past. The repeated flag burnings and protests in front of the consulate in the US could have unsettled this individual.”
Sources also emphasized that India is fully committed to assisting the US in this investigation, with officials already gathering relevant details. “Once all the information is collected, we will conduct a thorough investigation at the highest level and keep our counterparts informed,” they said.
The Indian government firmly maintains that no terror activities are conducted by any of its intelligence agencies.
This follows the US Justice Department’s announcement of criminal charges against Vikash Yadav, an Indian government employee, accusing him of orchestrating a failed plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Yadav, previously linked to India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), has been charged with “murder-for-hire.”
According to the US charges, Yadav allegedly enlisted an Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, to hire a hitman to carry out the assassination, a plan that was thwarted by US authorities.
