Canadian police have arrested three men on charges of first-degree murder linked to the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh leader in Surrey, British Columbia.
Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, announced about the arrest. Investigators believe these arrests involve a hit squad backed by the Indian government’s intelligence agency, RAW. The suspects were reportedly tasked with eliminating Najjar, the leader of the Khalistan Referendum movement in Canada.
During a press conference, LeBlanc confirmed the ongoing investigation into this high-profile case. The suspects, identified as Karanpreet Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karan Brar, face additional conspiracy charges related to another incident on May 1 in Edmonton and Surrey.
The police’s efforts also extend to investigating three other murders in Canada, including a child’s shooting death in Edmonton. However, the focus remains on Nijjar’s assassination.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent figure in the Sikh For Justice movement, acknowledged the arrests. He criticized the Indian government’s involvement in such overseas operations, asserting the arrests highlighted a dangerous overreach by the Modi administration.
The suspects allegedly performed various roles in the assassination, acting as shooters, drivers, and spotters. They were apprehended during coordinated operations across multiple provinces following months of surveillance.
Sources revealed that the arrested individuals are Indian citizens who entered Canada on temporary visas post-2021, likely under false pretences, as they neither pursued studies nor sought permanent residency in Canada. They are believed to be connected to a criminal network in Punjab and Haryana, which is linked to Lawrence Bishnoi.
Najjar, a Canadian citizen and a high-profile figure in the Sikh community, was killed in a coordinated attack at his gurdwara after evening prayers, an event captured on video and widely reported.
The incident has strained Canada-India relations, with Canadian officials directly confronting their Indian counterparts. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasized the gravity of foreign interference on Canadian soil as a severe breach of sovereignty.
Trudeau assured that Canadian intelligence and police are rigorously investigating the matter, promising transparency and accountability in their findings.
The broader context involves both Canadian and U.S. intelligence pointing to the Indian government’s use of criminal networks to target Sikh activists abroad, particularly those involved in the Khalistan movement.
The Khalistan Referendum, organized under the Punjab Referendum Commission, continues to garner international participation, with the next voting phase scheduled in Calgary.
