The Canadian Police, on Friday, arrested three Indian nationals who they believe were part of an alleged hit squad linked to the murder of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey of British Columbia last year.
The three youths, all in their 20s, were reportedly arrested during police operations in at least two provinces, say media reports. The investigators identified the alleged hit squad members in Canada a few months ago and have been keeping them under surveillance.
According to media reports, the three—Karanpreet Singh, Kamalpreet Singh and Karan Brar—have been arrested and charged in the killing of Nijjar. Each faces one count of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder in Nijjar's death.
Nijjar, who was a Canadian citizen, was gunned down outside his gurdwara in Surrey on June 18, 2023.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Assistant Commissioner David Teboul said three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of Nijjar.
According to The Toronto Star newspaper, Teboul said in addition to the murder case, separate investigations are looking into possible connections to the Government of India. "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."
A media report said the suspects had entered Canada on student visas but may have been working at the direction of Indian intelligence when they shot Nijjar.
The three are alleged to have played different roles as shooters, drivers and spotters on the day Nijjar was killed at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey in British Columbia, according to sources.
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 commit murder on May 1, 2023 in Edmonton and Surrey, the report said.
Quoting sources close to the investigation, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reported that the police are actively investigating possible links to three additional murders in Canada, including the death of an 11-year-old boy in Edmonton.
The relationship between India and Canada came under severe strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations in September last year of the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar. India denied Trudeau's charges as "absurd" and "motivated."
On Thursday, India rejected fresh comments by Trudeau on the killing of Nijjar and said the remarks once again illustrated the political space given in Canada to separatism, extremism, and violence.
Trudeau addressed a Khalsa Day event in Toronto on Sunday that was attended by some pro-Khalistan supporters.
On the sidelines of the event, he told the media that the killing of Nijjar created a "problem" and that he cannot ignore it.
"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 had 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.
—With agency inputs
