Three Arrested and Charged in Connection with Sikh Activist's Killing in Canada

 

Three Arrested and Charged in Connection with Sikh Activist's Killing in Canada

Three Indian nationals have been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader, in Canada. The arrests were announced on Friday, and the suspects have been identified as Karan Brar, 22, Kamal Preet Singh, 22, and Karan Preet Singh, 28.

Nijjar, 45, was shot dead by masked gunmen in a busy car park in a Vancouver suburb last June. The killing sparked a major diplomatic row between Canada and India, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleging that India's government may have been involved. India strongly denied the allegation.

The arrests are a significant development in the case, which has been marked by tensions between Canada and India. Police said that the three suspects had been living in Edmonton, Alberta, and had been in Canada for three to five years. They added that investigations were continuing, including into "connections to the government of India."

Assistant Commissioner David Teboul said that there may be others involved in the killing, and there may be further arrests or charges. He also acknowledged that collaboration with Indian authorities had been "rather difficult and rather challenging" for several years.

India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said that the country would wait for Canadian police to share information on those arrested, adding that the suspects "apparently are Indians of some kind of gang background."

Nijjar was a prominent figure in the Sikh separatist movement, which seeks to create an independent Sikh homeland in the Punjab region of India. He had publicly campaigned for Khalistan and had received threats in the past due to his activism.

The killing of Nijjar had sparked outrage in the Sikh community, with many calling for justice and accountability. Moninder Singh, a member of the British Columbia Gurdwaras Council and a friend of Nijjar's, said that the community was grateful to see progress in the investigation, but added that there were still "public safety concerns" and "a lot of tension."

The diplomatic row between Canada and India had escalated after Trudeau's allegation, with India accusing Canada of providing shelter to "Khalistani terrorists and extremists." The row had led to a reduction in the number of Canadian envoys in India, and Trudeau had faced pressure to provide evidence for his allegation.

The arrests and charges are a significant development in the case, and it remains to be seen how the investigation will proceed and whether there will be further arrests or charges. The Sikh community will be watching closely, seeking justice and accountability for the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.