3 Indian Nationals Arrested In Killing Of Hardeep Singh Nijjar: Canadian Police

Canadian police have arrested three Indian nationals believed by investigators to be members of an alleged hit squad tasked by the government of India with the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Accused In Hardeep Singh Nijjar Killing ( Image Source :X/@ANI )

Canadian police have apprehended three Indian nationals suspected to be part of an alleged hit squad commissioned by the Indian government to assassinate Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey last year, news agency PTI reported citing law enforcement authorities of the country.

It is to be noted that the arrest follows a strained relationship between India and Canada, escalated by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's accusations last September, suggesting potential Indian involvement in Nijjar's killing.

India had swiftly dismissed Trudeau's claims as baseless and politically motivated. Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Assistant Commissioner David Teboul announced the arrest of three individuals charged in the murder of Sikh activist Nijjar.

During a press briefing, Teboul stated that ongoing investigations into potential connections with the Indian government, underscoring the murder's active probe.

"There are separate and distinct investigations ongoing into these matters, certainly not limited to the involvement of the people arrested today, and these efforts include investigating connections to the government of India," he was quoted as saying by the CTV News channel.

Superintendent Mandeep Mooker, leading the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, noted that the suspects were previously unknown to law enforcement. Identifying them as Karan Brar, Karanpreet Singh, and Kamalpreet Singh, all in their twenties, Mooker revealed their arrest in Edmonton.

All three persons, identified as Indian nationals, have resided in Canada as non-permanent residents for three to five years, Mooker added.

Coordination with Indian authorities has posed challenges in recent years, according to Mooker, who credited the Sikh community for crucial information aiding the investigation.

"We would not be at this point without the bravery and courage of the Sikh community coming forward with information for this investigation," he said, adding that he believes they will continue to come forward for any future investigations, according to the report.

The suspects face charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to murder in Nijjar's death, court documents confirm.

Nijjar Murder And India-Canada Diplomatic Row

Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, was shot outside his gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023.

Reports suggest the suspects entered Canada on student visas but may have been operating under Indian intelligence directives during the assassination. Karan Brar faces additional charges related to a separate murder in Surrey and a conspiracy to murder in Edmonton and Surrey.

“Student visas but may have been working at the direction of Indian intelligence when they shot Nijjar.” According to court records, Brar has been charged with a murder that occurred in Surrey on June 18, 2023. He also faces a charge of conspiracy to murder on May 1, 2023, in Edmonton and Surrey, a report by Global News said.

Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic Leblanc refrained from confirming links to the Indian government, deferring such inquiries to the RCMP.

"I have full confidence in the security apparatus of the government of Canada and the work of the RCMP, and the work that the (Canadian) Security Intelligence Service does," Leblanc said, as reported by PTI. 

"I think the police operation that you see ongoing today confirms that the RCMP take these matters extremely seriously. But questions with respect to particular links or non-links are properly put to the RCMP," he added.

The indictments allege a conspiracy spanning Surrey and Edmonton from May 1, 2023, until Nijjar's killing.

CBC reports police are actively probing potential ties to three additional Canadian murders, including the death of an 11-year-old boy in Edmonton.

Alleged hit squad members assumed various roles during Nijjar's assassination, acting as shooters, drivers, and spotters, according to sources.

India rebuffed Trudeau's recent comments on Nijjar's killing, asserting the remarks perpetuate separatism and extremism in Canada.

"PM Trudeau has made such remarks earlier as well. His remarks illustrate once again the political space that has been given in Canada to separatism, extremism, and violence," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in New Delhi at his weekly media briefing.

"This not only impacts India-Canada relations but also encourages a climate of violence and criminality in Canada to the detriment of its own citizens," he said when asked about Trudeau's remarks.

Earlier on Monday, India had also summoned the Canadian deputy high commissioner and lodged a strong protest with him over the raising of pro-Khalistan slogans at the event in the presence of Trudeau and several other leaders. "It is a problem in our relations with India because we cannot ignore that," Trudeau said on the killing of Nijjar.