The Justice Department has revealed criminal charges against an Indian government employee named Vikash Yadav, who was involved in a plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader living in New York City. The foiled assassination plot was intended to be the first of several politically motivated murders in the United States and Canada.

Yadav, aged 39, is currently at large and faces murder-for-hire charges in connection with the planned killing. This revelation comes as a significant point of tension between India and the West, especially following a diplomatic dispute with Canada and the expulsion of diplomats.

FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized that acts of violence against individuals in the US for exercising their constitutional rights will not be tolerated. The criminal case against Yadav was announced while two members of an Indian inquiry committee investigating the plot were in Washington to meet with US officials.

According to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, the Indian government employee named in the Justice Department indictment is no longer an employee of the Indian government. Canada recently expelled India’s top diplomat and five other diplomats over allegations of targeting Sikh separatists in Canada.

The murder-for-hire plot was first disclosed last year when charges were brought against Nikhil Gupta, who was recruited by Yadav to orchestrate the assassination. Gupta, an Indian citizen, was extradited to the US from the Czech Republic after being arrested in Prague.

Yadav, a citizen and resident of India, directed the plot from India while employed by the government of India’s Cabinet Secretariat, which houses India’s foreign intelligence service. He described his position as a “Senior Field Officer” with responsibilities in security management and intelligence.

The indictment revealed that Yadav provided Gupta with personal information about the Sikh separatist leader in New York City, including his home address, phone numbers, and daily movements. The goal was to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an advocate for a sovereign Sikh state.

US authorities stated that the assassination was planned to occur shortly after the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh activist shot outside a cultural center in British Columbia. The plot aimed to target at least four individuals in Canada and the US by a specific date, with plans for more killings thereafter.

In response to the indictment, Pannun expressed gratitude for the US government’s commitment to protecting the life, liberty, and freedom of expression of its citizens. He condemned the attempt on his life as an act of transnational terrorism by India, posing a threat to American sovereignty, freedom of speech, and democracy.

The case highlights the ongoing tensions between India and the West and underscores the importance of safeguarding individuals from violence and political repression.