Pannun murder conspiracy: US publication exposes hand of former RAW chief

Senior officials of India’s notorious Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) have reportedly been involved in sanctioning an alleged assassination attempt on United States soil to eliminate Sikh separatist leader and an American citizen, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

According to an investigation by the American publication, Washington Post, the plot to kill Pannun was approved by former RAW chief Samant Goyal and led by Vikram Yadav, an officer of the agency.

According to the publication, Yadav was the “officer in India’s intelligence service” who gave “final instructions to the hired hit team” to kill the Sikh leader, known as one of the “most vocal critics” of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. .

The findings date back to when Modi was visiting the US in June 2023 and enjoying dinner with President Joe Biden at the White House.

Pannun, the general councilor of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and a pro-Khalistan Sikh leader, is one of the high-profile leaders of the community and is at risk of being removed, especially in the wake of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Murder 18 June 2023.

Pannun, like slain Canadian national Nijjar, has been promoting the idea of ​​a separate Sikh state for his community living in India and has been declared a “terrorist” by the Indian government.

Pannun had said in an interview last year that he is not and will not be afraid of India’s conspiracies against him.

“Just as the killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar by Indian agents on Canadian soil was a challenge to Canada’s sovereignty, the threat to an American citizen on American soil is a challenge to America’s sovereignty, and I am confident that the Biden Administration More than capable of handling any such challenges,” he said while responding to a question in the interview.

However, his foiled assassination plot – meticulously planned by India – has “stunned Western security officials”, The Washington Post said.

The publication wrote, “Yadav’s identity and affiliation, not previously reported, provide the clearest evidence to date that the assassination plan – ultimately foiled by US authorities – was directed from within the Indian spy service. Went.”

According to current and former Western security officials, senior RAW officials have also been “implicated” after a lengthy investigation into the matter by the Central Intelligence Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation and other agencies revealed links to the conspiracy. The “inner circle” of the Indian Prime Minister.

The US publication, owned by American tech tycoon Jeff Bezos, revealed that it was “a global surge in such campaigns of cross-border repression, as well as global forces pushing India and other countries to adopt strategies linked to the world’s most repressive campaigns.” Is investigating.” Governments.”

The White House took the report ‘very seriously’

Meanwhile, the White House said it was taking the Washington Post story “very seriously.”

During Monday’s briefing, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the Justice Department was investigating the matter.

“As you know, there is an investigation going on. As you just said to me in your question, and a criminal investigation, the Department of Justice is obviously running it. So anything related to that, I’ll have to refer you to According to the DOJ, India is an important strategic partner here in the United States.

Sorry, to the United States. We are therefore working on an ambitious agenda to expand our cooperation in many areas. As you know, we’ve been really persistent about this and have brought it up several times. Be it a meeting with the Prime Minister here or a meeting abroad.

This is a serious matter and we are taking it very seriously. The Indian government has been very clear with us that they are taking this seriously and will investigate. And we hope that on the basis of that, accountability will be fixed from the government.”