Canadian police arrested three men on Friday in connection with the fatal shooting of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader, in Vancouver last year. The killing sparked a diplomatic crisis between Canada and India, with accusations of Indian government involvement.
Nijjar, a vocal advocate for an independent Sikh state called Khalistan, was shot dead by masked gunmen in June 2023.Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau later accused Indian intelligence of having a role in the assassination, leading to India’s strong denials and retaliatory actions.
The three suspects, according to Canadian broadcaster CBC, face charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy. They are believed to have been involved in the shooting itself, driving the getaway car, and acting as lookouts.
Police are reportedly investigating potential connections to other murders, including the killing of an 11-year-old boy.
Nijjar, who immigrated to Canada in 1997, was wanted by India for alleged terrorism and murder conspiracy. However,his death on Canadian soil further strained relations between the two countries.
The situation escalated further with the US Justice Department charging an Indian citizen residing in the Czech Republic for plotting a similar assassination on American soil, allegedly with the involvement of an Indian official.
These developments come amidst the backdrop of growing US-India cooperation in the face of China’s rising influence.However, US intelligence suggests the assassination plot on US soil may have been approved by a high-ranking Indian official, further complicating the situation.
With a large Sikh population advocating for Khalistan living in Canada, the Nijjar case and subsequent arrests reignite tensions not only between Canada and India but also within the international community regarding the issue of Sikh separatism.
