Police in Canada have made arrests within the deadly 2023 capturing of distinguished Sikh-Canadian activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, months after authorities accused Indian authorities brokers of being concerned within the killing.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Canada’s westernmost province of British Columbia mentioned on Friday afternoon that three individuals have been arrested as a part of an ongoing investigation into Nijjar’s killing.
The three people — all Indian nationals — have been arrested in Edmonton, Alberta, and charged with first-degree homicide and conspiracy to commit homicide, RCMP Superintendent Mandeep Mooker advised reporters.
“This investigation doesn’t finish right here. We’re conscious that others could have performed a job on this murder, and we stay devoted to discovering and arresting every considered one of these people,” Mooker mentioned.
He added that police are “investigating if there are any ties to the federal government of India”.
“Nonetheless, as I mentioned, it’s an ongoing investigation and I don’t have any data to supply on that matter at the moment.”
Nijjar was fatally shot on June 18, 2023, exterior a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, spurring widespread condemnation.
A couple of months later, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mentioned the nation’s safety companies have been investigating “credible allegations of a possible hyperlink” between Indian authorities brokers and Nijjar’s killing.
“Any involvement of a international authorities within the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty,” Trudeau mentioned in an tackle to Canada’s parliament in September of final 12 months.
“Within the strongest attainable phrases, I proceed to induce the federal government of India to cooperate with Canada to unravel this matter.”
His feedback spurred a fierce response from India, which rejected the allegations as “absurd” and politically motivated. New Delhi additionally accused Canada of not doing sufficient to stem anti-India activism and “Sikh extremism”.
However Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s authorities has lengthy confronted allegations of focusing on political opponents, journalists and spiritual minorities, together with Muslims and Sikhs, in what rights teams have mentioned is a seamless effort to stifle dissent.
On the time of Nijjar’s killing, tensions had been rising between Canada and India over a Sikh marketing campaign for a sovereign state in India’s Punjab area. Often known as the Khalistan motion, the marketing campaign has supporters in Canada.
Nijjar served as president of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, the temple the place he was killed. He was amongst these advocating for Khalistan.
‘Energetic police operation’
Requested to touch upon Friday’s stories that arrests have been made within the case, Canada’s Public Security Minister Dominic LeBlanc referred reporters’ inquiries to the RCMP.
“You’ll perceive that the developments with respect to the homicide of a Canadian citizen, Mr Nijjar, are a part of an ongoing police operation. This operation began immediately. It’s nonetheless an energetic police operation,” LeBlanc mentioned in Ottawa.
The RCMP recognized the three males arrested on Friday as Kamalpreet Singh, Karanpreet Singh and Karan Brar.
Mooker, the police superintendent, mentioned all three have been non-permanent residents of Canada and had been within the nation for between three to 5 years.
CBC Information reported earlier within the day that, in accordance with unnamed sources, “members of the hit squad are alleged to have performed totally different roles as shooters, drivers and spotters” on the day Nijjar was killed.
“Sources mentioned investigators recognized the alleged hit squad members in Canada some months in the past and have been retaining them below tight surveillance,” the Canadian broadcaster mentioned.
The Excessive Fee of India in Ottawa didn’t instantly reply to Al Jazeera’s request for touch upon Friday afternoon.
Reported threats
Nijjar’s killing continues to lift questions round allegations of Indian international interference, notably inside Sikh diaspora communities in Canada, america and different international locations.
In September, Moninder Singh on the BC Gurdwaras Council advised Al Jazeera that he was amongst 5 Sikh leaders — together with Nijjar — who have been warned by the RCMP’s nationwide safety division in 2022 about threats towards their lives.
Reviews of an alleged plot to kill one other distinguished Sikh separatist chief within the US have additionally emerged following Nijjar’s loss of life. In late November, the US Division of Justice introduced expenses towards a 52-year-old Indian nationwide, Nikhil Gupta.
Gupta was accused of being a part of a foiled try to assassinate US citizen Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, in coordination with an Indian authorities worker and others.
The Washington Publish reported earlier this week that US intelligence companies decided that the operation to focus on Pannun was authorised by the then-head of India’s international intelligence company, often known as RAW.
The Indian authorities rejected these allegations as “unwarranted” and “unsubstantiated”, in accordance with media stories.
On Monday, White Home spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre described the Washington Publish report as “a severe matter”.
“The federal government of India has been very clear with us that they’re taking this critically and can examine — and we anticipate that accountability from the federal government,” Jean-Pierre advised reporters throughout a information briefing.
She added that Washington would proceed to lift considerations with New Delhi.
