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NEW DELHI: Canadian police on Friday arrested three Indians who it alleged were part of a hit squad tasked by Indian govt with the killing of Canadian citizen and pro-Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey last year, according to a media report. The trio have been charged in the killing of Nijjar, CTV News quoted a senior govt source as saying. The accused —Kamalpreet Singh, Karanpreet Singh and Karan Brar— faced first-degree murder and conspiracy charges in the Nijjar case, according to documents filed in a Surrey court. The three arrested men are Indian citizens who arrived in Canada on temporary visas after 2021, some of them on student visas. Hit squad allegedly played roles of shooters, drivers & spotters on day Nijjar was killed Justin Trudeau Provokes India Again!: Canadian PM Participates At Khalsa Day Event | Watch
Canadian media reported that the accused were arrested in operations in two provinces - Alberta and Ontario.
"None is believed to have pursued education in Canada. None has obtained permanent residency. All are alleged associates of a criminal group in Punjab & Haryana that is associated with Punjabi Lawrence Bishnoi," CBC News reported.
Quoting police sources, Globe News said: "The suspects... may've been working at the direction of Indian intelligence when they shot Nijjar." (TNN)
Members of the hit squad are alleged to have played different roles as shooters, drivers and spotters on the day Nijjar was killed at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey in British Columbia, according to the sources. The men were arrested on Friday during police operations in at least two provinces, the report said. Sources said investigators identified the alleged hit squad members in Canada some months ago and have been keeping them under tight surveillance.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police are expected to announce the arrests and share deta ils of their investigation later Friday, CTV News reported, quoting a senior govt source.
India had on Thursday rejected fresh comments by PM Trudeau on the killing of Nijjar and said the remarks once again illustrated the political space given in Canada to separatism, extremism, and violence. Trudeau had addressed a Khalsa Day event in Toronto Sunday attended by some proKhalistan supporters.
On the sidelines of the event, he told the media the killing of Nijjar created a "problem" and that he cannot ignore it, in an apparent reference to his earlier allegations of involvement of Indian agents in the assassination.
"PM Trudeau has made such remarks earlier as well. His remarks illustrate once again the political space that has been given in Canada to separatism, extremism, and violence," external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in News Delhi at his weekly media at a briefing.
"This not only impacts India-Canada relations but also encourages a climate of violence and criminality in Canada to the detriment of its own citizens," he added, when asked about Trudeau's remarks.
India on Monday also summoned the Canadian deputy high commissioner and lodged a strong protest with him over the raising of 'pro-Khalistan' slogans at the event in the presence of Trudeau. (PTI)
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