The External Affairs Ministry has denied that an Indian Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) staffer was involved in the purported plot to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the United States, as reported in The Washington Report.
MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the US media claim as “speculative and irresponsible” on Monday, calling it a “unwarranted and unsubstantiated” imputation on a “serious matter” that is under investigation.
As per the US’s report, it was claimed that a member of RAW Vikram Yadav had allegedly directed a hit squad to assassinate this American-based separatist.
It further suggested that this mission was allegedly approved by then chief of India’s intelligence agency Samant Goel.
The report also emphasized that Yadav was later re-inducted in CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) after this claimed assassination bid came to light last year.
However, the MEA also highlighted, that India is already conducting its investigation into the security concerns that the US government raises. As tweeted by the spokesperson, there is already a high-level committee set up by the Indian government to look into the matter, and also added, that speculative & irresponsible comments are not helpful at all.
Our response to media queries on a story in The Washington Post:https://t.co/ifYYng7CT3 pic.twitter.com/LEIso6euN6
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) April 30, 2024
Meanwhile, the white house has stated, that India is taking the allegations regarding the Pannun matter seriously. But it has refrained from commenting on the FBI’s investigation into the case.
Addressing the media, secretary of the white house Karine Jean-Pierre, said that the investigation is still ongoing, as the Department of Justice is conducting a criminal probe. Also, she reiterated the seriousness of the matter and took cognizance of India’s commitment to the probe.
Earlier, the US justice department arrested an Indian national Nikhil Gupta who had been charged with attempted murder of Pannun. As per America’s justice department, the anonymous Indian government employee had allegedly recruited Nikhil to kill this prominent khalistani figure.
Later she added that America will continue to raise the matter directly with the Indian government and expects accountability.
A prominent figure of the Khalistan movement, Gurpatwant Singh Pannu is a legal advisor and a spokesperson for the Sikhs for Justice organization (which was declared unlawful association in 2019) Later he was designated as a terrorist in the year 2020.
He is famously known for Punjab Referendum 2020. And running a campaign for the release of Jagtar Singh Hawara who is serving life sentence in the killing of Beant Singh-the former chief minister of Punjab.