Who Is Sukha Duneke? Gangster And Khalistani Sympathiser Killed In Canada

Duneke, who was shot dead in Canada's Winnipeg during an inter-gang rivalry, was a Khalistani sympathiser who was wanted in Punjab in cases of extortion, attempt to murder, and murder.

Sukhdool Singh Gill alias Sukha Duneke, part of the gang operated by Canada-based gangster Arsh Dalla, was shot dead in Canada's Winnipeg during an inter-gang rivalry on Wednesday night. Duneke, a Khalistani sympathiser, was wanted in Punjab in cases of extortion, attempt to murder and murder.

Duneke was one of the gangsters based abroad named in the Home Ministry’s wanted list. In fact, his name was on the list of wanted criminals shared by NIA on Wednesday. Duneke, a native of Moga in Punjab, was living and operating in Canada’s Ontario. He was part of the gang operated by Canada-based gangster Arsh Dalla.

Duneke flew to Canada from Punjab in 2017 after seeking a fake passport. At the time of his escape, Duneke had seven cases registered against him.

Duneke’s gang was involved in various cases of extortion and murders in Punjab. He was also allegedly involved in the murder of Kabaddi player Sandeep Nangal Ambian in 2022. He had more than a dozen cases of extortion and murder registered against him in Punjab. In July this year, two members of his gang, Gangsters Ajay Gumber and Sunny Bhinder, were arrested by Punjab Police.

India-Canada Diplomatic Row

This development comes amid an ongoing diplomatic row between Canada and India over the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged the potential involvement of Indian government agents and expelled a senior Indian diplomat. India rejected the charges as absurd and motivated and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move.

India on Wednesday advised all its citizens living in Canada and those contemplating travelling there to exercise utmost caution in view of growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes in the North American country.

Nijjar, 45, was the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen on June 18 in the parking lot of Surrey Gurdwara Sahib in Brampton.

Trudeau, who was recently in India for the G20 Summit said that he had brought up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his New Delhi visit. "Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty," he said. Nijjar carried a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head and was one of India's most-wanted terrorists.