Canadian police on Saturday disclosed photographs of all three individuals apprehended in connection with the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an India-designated terrorist, last year. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) identified the trio as Karanpreet Singh, 28, Kamalpreet Singh, 22, and Karan Brar, 22, all Indian nationals, and shared their images. These arrests took place in Edmonton, Alberta.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) of Surrey RCMP announced on Friday that the three men were apprehended for Nijjar’s June 2023 killing in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver. They now face charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
In addition to the suspects’ photographs, Canadian police released images of the vehicle believed to have been used by the suspects leading up to the homicide in Surrey.
During a news conference, RCMP Assistant Commissioner David Teboul, responsible for the Federal Policing Program in the Pacific Region, emphasized the ongoing and active nature of the investigation into Nijjar’s murder. He refrained from commenting on specific evidence or motives but highlighted the ongoing investigations, including potential connections to the Indian government.
Public Safety Minister Dominic Leblanc deferred questions regarding connections to the Indian government to the RCMP, expressing confidence in Canada’s security apparatus.
Despite speculation in Canadian media, police have not provided evidence linking the crime to India. India has consistently denied any involvement, dismissing the allegations as baseless.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, designated a terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency in 2020, was fatally shot outside a Gurdwara in Surrey in June of the following year. The IHIT has been leading the investigation, collaborating with various agencies and support services across Canada.
Nijjar’s killing strained diplomatic relations between Canada and India, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accusing India of involvement, a claim India vehemently rejected as unfounded. A purported video of the shooting emerged in March, depicting Nijjar being shot by armed assailants in what has been described as a “contract killing.”