RAW chief ‘approved’ Pannun assassination plan in US: report

• RAW officer spearheaded Pannun’s assassination attempt in the US.
• Senior RAW officials are also ‘implicated’ after extensive investigation.
• The White House takes Washington Post “very serious” story.

Senior officials of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) have approved the alleged plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader and an American citizen, Gurpatwad Singh Pannoon, on United States soil. Washington Post refers to an exclusive story.

According to the US publication’s report, an “Indian intelligence officer gave final instructions to a hit squad to kill” one of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “most vocal critics” as he enjoyed a dinner at the White House last year. June. year.

The RAW officer, identified as Vikram Yadav, spearheaded the assassination bid following the approval of then agency chief Samant Goel.

Pannun, the Sikh General Counsel for Justice (SFJ) and pro-Khalistan Sikh leader, is one of the high-profile leaders in the community and has remained at risk of being eliminated, particularly after Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijar. assassination June 18, 2023.

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

Pannun, in an interview last year, said he was not afraid and would not be deterred by 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 believe the Biden administration is more than capable of handling any such challenge,” he said, responding to a question in the interview.

However, the foiled plot to assassinate him — meticulously orchestrated by India — has “stunned Western security officials,” Washington Post declare yourself

“The previously undisclosed identity and affiliation of Yadav provide the clearest evidence to date that the assassination plot – ultimately foiled by US authorities – was directed by the Indian intelligence service,” the publication wrote.

According to current and former Western security officials, senior RAW officials have also been “involved”, following an extensive investigation into the matter by the Central Intelligence Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other agencies, which have mapped links of the conspiracy to The “inner circle” of the Indian Prime Minister.

The US publication, owned by US tech tycoon Jeff Bezos, revealed it was investigating a “global increase in such cross-border repression campaigns, as well as the global forces driving India and other nations to use tactics commonly associated with the world’s most repressive governments”.

The White House is taking the report “very seriously.”

Meanwhile, the White House maintained that it was getting it Washington Post “very serious” story.

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

“There’s an investigation, as you know, ongoing. So, as you just stated in your question, and a criminal investigation, the Department of Justice is obviously conducting that. So anything specific on that, I’d have to refer you to the Department of Justice. Look, India is an important strategic partner here in the United States.

For the, sorry, United States. Therefore, we are pursuing an ambitious agenda to expand our cooperation and some in many areas. As you know, we’ve been really consistent about this and have mentioned it many times. Whether it is a meeting here with the prime minister or a meeting abroad.

This is a serious matter, and we take it very, very seriously. The Government of India has been very clear with us that they are taking this seriously and will investigate. And we expect that accountability from the government based on that.”