Pranpura (Rewari): Vikash Yadav is a prime example of how the life of an intelligence agent can take a tragic turn.
Yadav, who grew up in a small village in Haryana, started his career as a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officer, but later joined the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).
In this arid village dominated by the members of the Ahir community and where the groundwater level has plummeted to about four hundred feet beneath the surface, the life Yadav has lived has a sheen of its own.
But today, Yadav – a resident of this village and perhaps the most striking personality to have emerged from the hamlet in the last several decades – faces a serious crisis. After apparently losing his government job, Yadav is now living under the shadow of grave uncertainty.
One afternoon in late January marked by a certain turbulence in the air, we found the residents of Pranpura smoking a hookah at the village square. They appeared shocked, and also angry that the young man who was the pride of their village is now in distress.
On January 15, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a press release stating that the high-level committee set up by the Union government in November 2023 to investigate the information received from the US concerning certain terrorist organisations and criminals had submitted its report and recommended “legal action against an individual”.
Pranpura villagers talking about Yadav. Photo: Shruti Sharma/The Wire Hindi.
The release does not explicitly state it, but it is widely believed that the committee was set up to investigate the indictment issued by the US, which alleges that former RAW officer Yadav orchestrated the conspiracy to kill pro-Khalistan activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York.
Following the public disclosure of the indictment, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said last year that Yadav was “no longer an employee of the Government of India”.
Similarly, while Yadav’s name was not explicitly mentioned in this release, analysts and media reports claim that the individual referenced in the legal proceedings is indeed Yadav.
Consequently, this marks the first acknowledgement by India of the involvement of one of its citizens – and officials – in the purported conspiracy that took place in the US.
The villagers assert that the home ministry’s statement constitutes an injustice to Yadav. Their biggest grievance is the lack of national discourse on this matter at present.
Media reports suggesting that Yadav acted independently, with no involvement from the government in the alleged plot to kill Pannun, cut little ice in the village.
Pranpura village. Photo: Shruti Sharma/The Wire Hindi.
Anil Kumar, a former classmate of Yadav at the Ahir College in Rewari, questioned the committee’s recommendations and asked, “Does a soldier who serves the nation take risks for personal gain or for the country? Vikas acted selflessly. He was a government servant and his actions were for the government. Why, then, is the government washing its hands off it?”
The residents of the village assert that Yadav did not travel to the US of his own accord. “He went to America at the behest of the government and returned after the assignment was complete,” they claim.
The US indictments do not mention a visit by Yadav to the United States.
Anil further stated that since the Indian government declared Pannun a terrorist many years ago, this raises the question of why action is being taken against its own soldier for the alleged plot.
Dinesh Kumar, a former CRPF soldier, posed another critical question: “If the government withdraws its support from its personnel, who would be willing to undertake such a profession? Who would risk their life for the nation?”
The majority of families in Pranpura belong to the Yadav community. Yadav’s father, Ram Singh Yadav, served as a soldier in the Border Security Force and attained the rank of deputy superintendent of police. He was stationed in Tripura in 2007 when he died of a heart attack. Yadav’s elder brother, Ajay Yadav, is currently employed with the Haryana police.
A resident of the village, Shishram, referred to this family as a ‘family of patriots’.
Shish Ram, a resident of Pranpura. Photo: Shruti Sharma/The Wire Hindi.
Yadav began his career with the CRPF as an assistant commandant at the young age of 22. Later, he served the country in the capacity of a RAW officer.
However, following his inclusion in the US indictment, the MEA announced that he was no longer affiliated with the Union government.
He was, in fact, dismissed from service and since that time, he has been unemployed and lacks any source of income, his family said.
Stages of crisis
Yadav faced a series of disasters, the first of which was the appearance of his name in the US indictment. As his pictures started circulating in the media, it caused significant concern for his family.
The Wire Hindi had published two news stories during that period. On October 17, 2024, following the US indictment, the FBI announced that Yadav was ‘wanted’. The Indian government also failed to provide clarity regarding his whereabouts.
In our initial report from Pranpura, we stated that Yadav had contacted his family to assure them that he was safe and sound.
In the second report, it was stated that Yadav had visited his family, spent time with them and left after once again assuring them of his safety. The Wire Hindi had also reported that Yadav’s family was upset with the government and felt that it did nothing to save him.
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After losing his job, this former RAW officer embarked on a new venture in agriculture and poultry farming. However, just as he was striving to regain stability in his life, the latest press release from the home ministry struck as a new calamity, as per his family.
The press release pointed to an individual with a criminal history. However, the villagers refuted any claims regarding Yadav’s involvement in criminal conduct.
Remembering Yadav as a fast bowler during college, Anil Kumar said, “He never even argued with anyone in college; how can the government label such a person as a criminal?”
Three weeks following the initial indictment filed by the US in November 2023, the Delhi police apprehended Yadav on December 18, 2023 on allegations of kidnapping and extortion. He was granted regular bail on April 22, 2024 after having spent nearly four months in Tihar jail.
The villagers are suspicious of the entire case.
It is important to highlight that during the time he was reported to have been in Tihar, he was regularly in touch with his family, according to them.
Vikas Yadav’s ancestral house in Pranpura. Photo: Shruti Sharma/The Wire Hindi.
‘Is the government afraid of the US?’
The villagers are astonished at the lack of media coverage following the government’s recent press release.
“When the name was mentioned previously, reporters were pouring in. Why is there no coverage of the news now?” they asked.
“They claim that Modi’s name resonates all over the world … What happened now? Is he afraid of America?” remarked Anil.
The villagers pointed out that if the government was able to bring back Wing Commander Abhinandan from captivity in Pakistan, why was it now considering legal action against one of its own officers?
In 2019, Abhinandan was captured by the Pakistani army. The Indian government promptly facilitated his return to the country. This event was perceived as a triumph of the aggressive foreign policies of the Modi government.
Dinesh, along with his four brothers, has dedicatedly served in the army. He highlighted that a significant number of youth from Haryana, particularly from the regions of Rewari and Mahendragarh, enlist in the army. In honour of soldiers who lost their lives in various wars, memorials have been erected in the village.
If the government puts one of its promising young recruits in the dock, it may deter families from encouraging their children to pursue a career in the military, Dinesh said.
As the discussion continued, the villagers continued smoking their hookah in turn and expressed their displeasure at the turn of events.
When asked about the possibility of Yadav’s arrest, Dinesh said, “If it happens, there will be a revolt.”
At a small distance, a bottle containing indigo-coloured water was hanging outside a house, casting its shadow on the wall. Locals use it to scare stray dogs away.
A bottle of indigo hanging outside the house to scare away dogs. Photo: Ashutosh Bhardwaj/The Wire Hindi.
In his village, Yadav’s family was a little more prosperous than the others. A charming beagle named Tommy would be found roaming in the courtyard. Yadav had brought it and was very fond of him. The main source of this prosperity was Yadav’s career, which has abruptly ended now.
With this unforeseen financial crisis, the future of Vikas’s young daughter remains uncertain. Currently, she is being raised by her grandmother, who, burdened with concern for her son, is unexpectedly beset by various health issues.
In an earlier report, The Wire Hindi cited her expressing her concerns for her son’s safety. This mother’s fears remain unchanged to this day.
Originally published on The Wire Hindi, this article was translated by Naushin Rehman.
