Canadian authorities have arrested and charged three Indian men with the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was fatally shot last year outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver. The suspects, Karanpreet Singh (28), Kamalpreet Singh (22), and Karan Brar (22), are facing charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) stated that they are investigating whether the arrested individuals have any connections to the Indian government. This development follows Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s previous remarks suggesting possible involvement of Indian government entities in the assassination, leading to tensions between Ottawa and New Delhi.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen advocating for the establishment of Khalistan, an independent Sikh homeland, had been labeled a “terrorist” by the Indian government. His assassination further strained relations between Canada and India.
The arrests in Edmonton, Alberta, were made in collaboration with US law enforcement agencies, although specific details were not disclosed. Canadian authorities hinted at the possibility of more arrests in connection with the murder.
Balpreet Singh, representing the Canada-based World Sikh Organization, welcomed the arrests but raised questions about potential directives behind the hit, suggesting a deeper layer to the investigation.
The extradition of the suspects to British Columbia for legal proceedings is expected by Monday. Trudeau’s previous assertion of alleged Indian government involvement in the murder had been refuted by New Delhi as baseless. Additionally, last year, US authorities revealed an alleged Indian government role in a failed assassination attempt on Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist with dual citizenship in the US and Canada.
