**Washington D.C.** – The United States Justice Department has announced serious charges against an Indian government employee in connection with an alleged conspiracy to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a U.S. citizen and prominent Khalistani separatist, in New York City. Pannun has been declared a terrorist by India, but this latest development marks a new level of international tension, with allegations of a murder-for-hire plot involving Indian operatives.Vikash Yadav, 39, also known as Vikas and Amanat, has been charged with murder-for-hire and money laundering. The U.S. authorities allege that Yadav, a senior officer within India’s Cabinet Secretariat, which houses the country’s foreign intelligence service, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), masterminded the foiled assassination. According to the Justice Department, Yadav orchestrated the plot from India, enlisting the help of local operatives to carry out the plan.The plot was exposed by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which uncovered the conspiracy during an undercover operation. According to U.S. prosecutors, Yadav recruited an Indian national, identified as Gupta, to help execute the assassination. Gupta, allegedly involved in international narcotics and arms trafficking, contacted a DEA informant posing as a criminal associate, believing they could assist in contracting a hitman. The DEA informant introduced Gupta to an undercover officer pretending to be the hitman.Yadav and Gupta are accused of agreeing to pay $100,000 for the assassination, with an advance payment of $15,000 delivered in June 2023. The undercover DEA officer, pretending to be the hired hitman, received surveillance photographs and detailed information about Pannun’s personal life, including his address and daily activities. The assassination was supposed to be carried out quickly but delayed to avoid coinciding with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the United States in June.“This intricate plot has global implications. The charges underscore the lengths some are willing to go to stifle voices of dissent, even on foreign soil. The DEA played a crucial role in thwarting this plot and ensuring the safety of the intended victim,” a spokesperson for the Justice Department stated.Yadav’s position as a “senior field officer” within India’s intelligence services raises significant concerns, as does his prior service with the Central Reserve Police Force. His involvement in this conspiracy adds an international dimension to what is already a contentious geopolitical issue between India and Khalistani separatist movements.Pannun, the founder of the banned group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), has long been a vocal proponent of Khalistan, a separate Sikh homeland. India has labeled SFJ a terrorist organization, and Pannun himself has been charged under various Indian anti-terror laws. This latest assassination plot adds further complexity to the strained relations between India and advocates of the Khalistani cause abroad.