Three Indian nationals have been arrested and charged in the killing of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June. The case widened a rift between Canada and India, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accusing India of orchestrating the killing. Nijjar, a self-proclaimed Sikh nationalist who supported Sikhs’ right to self-determination, was shot near the Sikh temple he led. The arrests of the three suspects, all in their 20s and living in Canada for a few years, were made in Edmonton, Alberta. They were charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
The Indian government had declared Nijjar a terrorist in 2020, accusing him of plotting a violent attack in India and leading a terrorist group called the Khalistan Tiger Force. In response to the killing, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau stated that evidence suggested involvement of “agents of the government of India.” He raised the issue with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a Group of 20 summit in New Delhi, emphasizing that any foreign involvement in a Canadian citizen’s killing on Canadian soil was unacceptable. Canada expelled an Indian diplomat described as the de facto head of India’s intelligence agency in Canada following the accusations.
The arrests of the suspects were made with the help of individuals in the Sikh community, although specific details were not provided by Canadian authorities. The relationship with Indian investigative partners had been challenging, with several ongoing investigations exploring the possible involvement of the Indian government. India vehemently denied the allegations made by Trudeau, with Prime Minister Modi rejecting them and the foreign ministry calling the accusations linking India to Nijjar’s killing “absurd.” The case has led to tensions between the two nations, setting off a political dispute.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, born in Punjab, India, had moved to Canada in the mid-1990s after facing difficulties gaining entry. He became a Canadian citizen in 2015 and was a key figure in British Columbia in supporting a referendum for the establishment of a nation called Khalistan that included the state of Punjab. The shooting of Nijjar near the Sikh temple he led raised questions about whether the attack was politically motivated, although investigators did not confirm this. Nijjar’s advocacy for Sikh rights had drawn attention from both Indian and Canadian authorities.
The three suspects arrested in connection with Nijjar’s killing were charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Living in Canada for a few years but not permanent residents, the men were taken into custody in Edmonton, Alberta. The arrests followed an announcement by Canadian authorities that cited the cooperation of individuals in the Sikh community in helping with the investigation. The case highlighted tensions between Canada and India, with Trudeau accusing India of involvement in the killing and India vehemently denying the allegations. The incident has raised concerns about foreign involvement in domestic matters and has led to a diplomatic dispute between the two nations.
