In a significant development, Canadian authorities have apprehended and charged three Indian men in connection with the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Sikh separatist leader. The incident, which occurred outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, Vancouver, has sparked investigations into potential links between the accused and the Indian government.
Identified as Karanpreet Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karan Brar, the trio’s arrest comes amidst heightened tensions following Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau’s earlier assertions of Indian government involvement in Nijjar’s assassination. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is actively probing any ties that these men might have to Indian authorities.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen advocating for Khalistan, an independent Sikh state, was a contentious figure for India, which labeled him a “terrorist.” This case has strained diplomatic relations, with the White House expressing concerns about Indian intelligence’s alleged role in similar plots within Canada and the United States.
Collaborating with U.S. law enforcement, Canadian authorities hinted at possible further detentions related to Nijjar’s murder, emphasizing an ongoing effort to unravel networks facilitating such crimes on Canadian soil. While the arrests have been welcomed by Sikh advocacy groups, including legal counsel Balpreet Singh of the World Sikh Organization, they underscore the imperative to dismantle these networks comprehensively to ensure the safety of Canadians.
