Nijjar Killing: Assailants In 'Sikh Get-Up' Fired 50 Bullets At Pro-Khalistan Leader, 34 Hit Him, Says Report

According to a report in The Washington Post, the assailants fired 50 bullets at Khalistani leader Hardee Singh Nijjar, out of which 34 hit him.

As tensions continue to deepen between India and Canada over the June 18 killing of pro-Khalistan Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, crucial details have started coming out about his murder. Things took a sharp turn when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that India has "potential links" with the murder. Now, a report in the Washington Post, which quotes several witnesses to the incident and the security camera footage of the gurdwara, says that 50 bullets were shot at Nijjat and 34 hit him.

According to the report, members of the local Sikh community said that authorities have told them little about their investigation. They added that police were slow in their response and disagreement between agencies caused further delays. The Post mentioned that several business owners and residents near the gurdwara say they have not been quizzed or asked for security video by any agency so far.

 

Nijjar's Killing Captured In 90-Second Video

The security camera of the gurdwara recorded a 90-second footage covering the entire incident, the Post reported. It said that the video has already been shared with the investigators. According to the report, the footage begins with Nijjar’s gray pickup truck pulling out of a parking space. Later, a white sedan appears in an adjacent lot. It pulls up and drives parallel to the truck.

The footage shows the sedan matching up with the pace as soon as Nijjar's truck speeds up. Then the truck merges into the sedan’s lane and for a moment they’re side-by-side. As per the Washington Post, before the truck could reach the parking lot, the sedan pulls in front and brakes to block the truck.

Two men wearing hooded sweatshirts come out from under a covered waiting area and move toward the truck. They point a firearm at the driver’s seat. Soon, the sedan exits the parking lot. Then the two men run in the same direction after shooting Nijjar.

Recalling the scary moment, Bhupinderjit Singh, a volunteer at the gurdwara, said that he was playing soccer near the site when he heard what he first believed were fireworks. "My second thought was gunshots — and our president," he was quoted assaying by the Post.

He ran and opened the driver’s side door, he said and grabbed Nijjar’s shoulders. The gurdwara leader did not seem to be breathing, as per the report. It added that community members said investigators have told them that the assailants fired about 50 bullets and thirty-four hit Nijjar.

 

Chasing The Five Men

Soon after the shooting, Malkit Singh, a Gurdwara committee member who was also playing soccer, spotted two hooded men running toward neighboring Cougar Creek Park. He chased them through the park. He said he did not recognise them but said they were wearing "a Sikh get-up," with hoodies pulled over small pughs on their heads and masks over their "bearded faces".

Singh said the men ran out of the park to a cul-de-sac, and got into a waiting silver car. Surprisingly, he said, three other men were waiting inside the silver car. He couldn’t see their faces.

"One of the [running] men pointed his pistol at me right before getting into the car. The smell of gunpowder in the air shocked me and reminded me how dangerous they were," he said adding that the five men then drove off.

Delay In Police ASction, Alleged Community Members

Charanjeet Singh, the gurdwara’s caretaker, saw the assailant but didn't recognise them.  He stayed with Nijjar’s body as the news of the killing engulfed social media.

According to the Washington Post, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s (RCMP) Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said police received the first report of the shooting at 8:27 p.m. Witnesses told The Post that it took between 12 and 20 minutes for the police to arrive. They described the interval as shocking, saying that a large number of police regularly patrol the neighborhood.

According to the Post, Bhupinderjit Singh said, "There was an hours-long tussle between Surrey police and the RCMP. They couldn’t decide who would head the investigation, so there was a delay."

Community members said they were most concerned that authorities did not offer Nijjar more protection, adding that they’ve been given little information since.