Sources also questioned if Vikash Yadav, the individual named by US, could have an issue with Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun at an individual level.
The Government of India said it was cooperating with the United States on charges levelled against an Indian national in plot to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun who resides in New York City. Top sources said no such individual was working with Indian Intelligence agencies as was being claimed by the US.
Sources stated that Indian intelligence agencies do not hire any hitman. Sources also questioned if Vikash Yadav, the individual named by US, could have an issue with Pannun at an individual level.
“It is important to probe where is this individual and what is his problem with Pannun. Pannun is spreading hatred and speaking against India on a regular basis. This individual must have some individual problems with Pannun because of his conduct,” top intelligence sources said.
“The way incidents of Indian flags burning have been emerging, some individuals have made it a personal fight against Pannun as we have noticed in the recent past. Burning of Indian flags and protests have been taking place in front of the consulate in US on a regular basis and this might have disturbed this individual,” sources added.
They also stated that India will go all out to help US in this probe and officials were already in the process of collecting details. “Once we have everything, we will probe it at highest level and inform our counterparts,” sources said.
The Indian government is clear that no terror activities by any Indian intelligence agencies can take place.
This came after the US Justice Department announced criminal charges against Vikash Yadav, an Indian government employee, and has accused him of allegedly orchestrating a failed plot to kill Pannun. The US has charged Yadav, previously associated with the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), of “murder-for-hire”.
According to the charges by the US, Yadav recruited an Indian national named Nikhil Gupta to hire a hitman to assassinate Pannun, which was foiled by US authorities.
