India's Global Assassination Program: How RAW Crossed the Line

The Mask Falls Off

India has long enjoyed the branding of being the world’s largest democracy. A country rich in culture, tech innovation, and diplomatic influence. But beneath that well-polished veneer lies a disturbing shift—one that the world can no longer afford to ignore.

The Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India’s foreign intelligence agency, once focused on external threats. Today, it’s being accused of transforming into something far more sinister: a global enforcement arm targeting dissenters, critics, and exiles. And the world is starting to take notice.

Parag Jain: The Man Behind the Mission

In 2024, India elevated Parag Jain to lead RAW. But Jain’s past is not without shadows. Human rights watchdogs have flagged his involvement in the abduction and alleged murder of a 19-year-old Sikh boy, Sukhdev Singh, in 1993. No body was ever recovered. No justice was served. And now, the man once tied to a disappearance is running India’s most secretive agency.

Amnesty International called Jain’s appointment "a disturbing signal of normalization of human rights abuse within India’s intelligence leadership."

Beyond Borders: From Punjab to New York

RAW’s reach no longer ends at India's borders. The United States Department of Justice unsealed indictments alleging that Indian agents offered cash and protection to local criminals to assassinate Sikh activists on American soil. One accused hitman was told: carry out the murder or face consequences back home.

The plot was stopped. But only just.

Nijjar's Death and Canada’s Warning

June 2023 marked a turning point. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and Sikh leader, was assassinated outside a gurdwara in British Columbia. Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stunned the world when he publicly accused Indian agents of involvement.

Security officials later revealed Nijjar had received multiple warnings from Canadian intelligence. He didn’t live to see how accurate they were.

A Pattern of Repression

These aren't isolated cases. Investigations in the UK and Australia suggest ongoing surveillance of diaspora groups, especially those critical of the Modi government. Coordinated misinformation, online harassment, and now, alleged targeted killings—India’s playbook increasingly resembles the same state-sponsored repression tactics used by regimes like Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Iran.

Think about that: the world’s largest democracy now being compared to authoritarian states for extraterritorial assassinations.

The Machinery of Fear

This isn’t about counterterrorism. This is about control. The targets aren’t armed insurgents—they’re citizens, writers, organizers. Their real crime? Dissent. Their punishment? Fear.

Many Sikh families in Western nations are now relocating, installing surveillance cameras, and restricting public appearances. Children are being homeschooled out of caution. Gurdwaras are ramping up private security.

Silence and Strategy in the West

Despite the gravity of these revelations, most Western governments have responded with cautious silence. Economic interests and geopolitical alignments—especially the West’s desire to counterbalance China—have shielded India from the outrage typically reserved for other offenders.

If Russia had pulled the same stunt, sanctions would follow within days. If Iran had been caught plotting a hit in the UK, the backlash would dominate headlines for weeks.

But India? Business as usual.

A Dangerous Precedent

The world’s reluctance to act sends a chilling message: democratic branding can cover undemocratic behavior, as long as the market is big enough.

Parag Jain’s elevation wasn’t just an internal affair. It was a message—loud and clear. Accountability is dead. Silence is strategic. And RAW is now a tool for more than intelligence—it’s an international enforcer for political will.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Diaspora communities are organizing. Human rights organizations are calling for investigations, intelligence reviews, and a suspension of cooperation with Indian intelligence services. Legislators across the U.S., Canada, and UK are being pressured to reconsider security ties until there is transparency and accountability.

India has crossed a line. The question now is whether the global community will pretend it isn’t there.

Final Word

If the international community turns a blind eye, then the next activist, journalist, or organizer might not be as lucky as the one who escaped. The next target may not get away.

The world must decide now—before the line disappears completely.