Three Indian nationals have been arrested and charged in connection with the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, igniting significant diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
Nijjar, 45, was shot dead by masked gunmen last June in a crowded parking lot in a Vancouver suburb, a crime that led to a diplomatic spat after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested possible involvement from India’s government. India has firmly denied these allegations.
On Friday, Superintendent Mandeep Mooker announced the arrests of Karan Brar, 22, Kamal Preet Singh, 22, and Karan Preet Singh, 28, all of whom had been residing in Edmonton, Alberta. They face charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
According to police, the three suspects had been in Canada for three to five years. Investigations are ongoing, with authorities examining potential links to the Indian government.
“There are separate and distinct investigations ongoing into these matters, certainly not limited to the involvement of the people arrested today,” stated Assistant Commissioner David Teboul. Investigators are also working with counterparts in India, though they noted that collaboration has been challenging.
India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar expressed a willingness to wait for Canadian police to provide further details, remarking that the suspects “apparently are Indians of some kind of gang background.”
Nijjar was a prominent advocate for Khalistan, the proposed creation of an independent Sikh state in India’s Punjab region. Historically, this movement saw significant violence during the 1970s and 1980s but has largely shifted to countries with large Sikh diasporas.
Indian authorities previously labeled Nijjar a terrorist, claiming he led a militant group, accusations his supporters vehemently contest. Prior to his death, he reportedly received warnings from Canadian intelligence about being targeted.
The shooting took place at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023. Friends and community members have since voiced concerns about public safety and tensions within the Sikh community.
In the aftermath of Nijjar’s killing, Trudeau indicated in the House of Commons that Canada was investigating “credible allegations” linking the Indian state to the incident. This assertion has been categorically denied by Indian officials, who have accused Canada of harboring “Khalistani terrorists and extremists.”
As a result of the escalating diplomatic tensions, India has requested Canada to reduce its diplomatic presence in the country. Trudeau is also under pressure to provide evidence supporting his claims of India’s involvement in Nijjar’s murder.