Canadian authorities have arrested individuals allegedly involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, designated as a terrorist by India, last June, as reported by CBC News. The investigation is also looking into potential connections between the alleged assailants and three other homicides in Canada. Authorities are expected to provide further details shortly. Nijjar was fatally shot outside a Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18.
CBC’s report suggests that the detained individuals might be part of a purported assassination squad sanctioned by the Indian government, an allegation India consistently denies. In September 2023, India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, reiterated that the Indian government did not endorse such actions.
According to CBC, the arrested men entered Canada on temporary visas after 2021 and are purportedly affiliated with Lawrence Bishnoi, a detained gangster in India accused of orchestrating the killing of singer Sidhu Moose Wala in May 2022.
Court documents, cited by CTV News, identify the arrested individuals as Karanpreet Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karan Brar, charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
These arrests occur against the backdrop of strained relations between India and Canada. Last year, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested Indian government involvement in Nijjar’s assassination, a claim India vehemently denies.
Earlier this month, a purported video depicting Nijjar’s killing emerged, showing armed assailants shooting him outside a Gurdwara in Surrey. Nijjar, designated a terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency in 2020, was gunned down in what was described as a meticulously coordinated attack involving six individuals and two vehicles.
Tensions persist in India-Canada relations, with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs condemning pro-Khalistan slogans voiced at a public event attended by Trudeau on May 2. The ministry underscored Canada’s tolerance towards separatism, extremism, and violence, which not only impacts bilateral relations but also fosters an environment of lawlessness detrimental to its citizens. During Toronto’s Khalsa Day Celebrations, pro-Khalistan chants were audible in the presence of Trudeau and opposition leader Pierre Poilievre.