In a move that could further strain relations with India, Canadian authorities arrested and charged three Indian nationals in connection with the fatal shooting of Sikh rights activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are also investigating potential ties between the suspects and the Indian government.
Nijjar, a 45-year-old Canadian citizen, was gunned down outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. He was a vocal advocate for Khalistan, a separate Sikh homeland carved out of India. New Delhi has long viewed such separatist movements with suspicion, labeling Nijjar a “terrorist.”
The three suspects, identified as Karanpreet Singh (28), Kamalpreet Singh (22), and Karan Brar (22), were apprehended on Friday in Edmonton, Alberta. They are expected to be transferred to British Columbia for court proceedings by Monday.
“This investigation is ongoing,” stressed Assistant RCMP Commissioner David Teboul. “We believe others may be involved and are committed to bringing them to justice.”
Trudeau Cites Evidence, India Denies Involvement
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has previously expressed concern about potential Indian government involvement in the murder, sparking a diplomatic crisis. New Delhi vehemently rejected these accusations, calling them “baseless.”
The arrests come amidst reports from the United States suggesting Indian intelligence may have been behind an assassination attempt on US soil targeting another Sikh separatist leader, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
Questions Remain for Sikh Community
While welcoming the arrests, the World Sikh Organization, a prominent advocacy group, emphasized the need for further investigation. “These arrests are a positive development, but they raise more questions than answers,” said Balpreet Singh, the organization’s legal counsel. “The suspects were likely part of a larger operation, and we need to identify those who gave the orders.”
Pannun, the targeted Sikh leader in the US, echoed this sentiment. He called today’s action “a step in the right direction,” but stressed the importance of dismantling networks that enable such violence to occur on Canadian soil.
We have yet to see the progress of the investigation and the extent of any potential involvement by the Indian government. The international community, particularly those concerned about Sikh rights and the ongoing tensions between Canada and India, are sure to closely watch this case.