Indian Nationals Arrested for Killing Sikh Separatist Leader in Canada
OTTAWA ‑— In a dramatic turn of events, three Indian nationals have been apprehended and formally charged in connection with the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. The assassination, carried out by masked gunmen in a bustling Vancouver suburb car park last June, ignited a fierce diplomatic feud between the two nations.
The tension between Canada and India reached a boiling point when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau implied that the Indian government may have played a role in the crime, a claim vehemently denied by New Delhi.
Identified as Karan Brar, 22, Kamal Preet Singh, 22, and 28-year-old Karan Preet Singh, the suspects were residing in Edmonton, Alberta at the time of their arrest. They now face charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, as per court records.
According to Superintendent Mandeep Mooker, the trio had been living in Canada for three to five years. Authorities also disclosed that the investigation remains ongoing, specifically looking into possible ties to the Indian government.
Assistant Commissioner David Teboul confirmed that the police have been collaborating with Indian counterparts, albeit facing significant challenges throughout the process. The authorities hinted at the possibility of additional arrests or charges as the investigation unfolds.
Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar of India expressed willingness to cooperate with Canadian authorities, emphasizing that the suspects appeared to have ties to criminal gangs. Nijjar, a prominent advocate for Khalistan, an independent Sikh homeland in Punjab, India, had long been a target due to his separatist activities.
Nijjar’s assassination at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, just outside Vancouver, on June 18 last year, shook the Sikh community. The incident prompted concerns over public safety and lingering tensions within the community.
Three months following Nijjar’s tragic demise, Trudeau’s remarks in the House of Commons reignited the diplomatic spat, prompting India to demand a reduction in Canadian diplomatic representation in the country. The Canadian leader’s allegations of Indian involvement in the murder were met with strong denials from Indian officials, who accused Canada of harboring extremist elements.
As the investigation progresses, the global Sikh community watches closely, hoping for justice to prevail and for peace to be restored amidst the lingering tensions between Canada and India.
