Police in Canada have made arrests within the deadly 2023 capturing of distinguished Sikh-Canadian activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, months after government accused Indian govt brokers of being concerned within the killing.
The Royal Canadian Fixed Police (RCMP) in Canada’s westernmost province of British Columbia mentioned on Friday afternoon that 3 folks have been arrested as a part of an ongoing investigation into Nijjar’s killing.
The 3 folks — all Indian nationals — have been arrested in Edmonton, Alberta, and charged with first-degree homicide and conspiracy to devote homicide, RCMP Superintendent Mandeep Mooker informed journalists.
“This investigation does now not finish right here. We’re mindful that others could have performed a task on this murder, and we stay devoted to discovering and arresting every this sort of folks,” Mooker mentioned.
He added that police are “investigating if there are any ties to the federal government of India”.
“On the other hand, as I mentioned, it’s an ongoing investigation and I don’t have any knowledge to offer on that subject presently.”
Nijjar used to be fatally shot on June 18, 2023, outdoor a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, spurring popular condemnation.
A couple of months later, Canadian Top Minister Justin Trudeau mentioned the rustic’s safety businesses have been investigating “credible allegations of a possible hyperlink” between Indian govt brokers and Nijjar’s killing.
“Any involvement of a overseas govt within the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty,” Trudeau mentioned in an cope with to Canada’s parliament in September of closing yr.
“Within the most powerful conceivable phrases, I proceed to induce the federal government of India to cooperate with Canada to resolve this subject.”
His feedback spurred a fierce reaction from India, which rejected the allegations as “absurd” and politically motivated. New Delhi additionally accused Canada of now not doing sufficient to stem anti-India activism and “Sikh extremism”.
However Indian Top Minister Narendra Modi’s govt has lengthy confronted allegations of concentrated on political fighters, reporters and spiritual minorities, together with Muslims and Sikhs, in what rights teams have mentioned is a constant effort to stifle dissent.
On the time of Nijjar’s killing, tensions were rising between Canada and India over a Sikh marketing campaign for a sovereign state in India’s Punjab area. Referred to 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 used to be killed. He used to be amongst the ones advocating for Khalistan.
‘Energetic police operation’
Requested to touch upon Friday’s studies that arrests have been made within the case, Canada’s Public Protection Minister Dominic LeBlanc referred journalists’ inquiries to the RCMP.
“You’ll remember the fact that the trends with admire to the homicide of a Canadian citizen, Mr Nijjar, are a part of an ongoing police operation. This operation began these days. It’s nonetheless an energetic police operation,” LeBlanc mentioned in Ottawa.
The RCMP known the 3 males arrested on Friday as Kamalpreet Singh, Karanpreet Singh and Karan Brar.
Mooker, the police superintendent, mentioned all 3 have been non-permanent citizens of Canada and were within the nation for between 3 to 5 years.
CBC Information reported previous within the day that, in keeping with unnamed assets, “individuals of the hit squad are speculated to have performed other roles as shooters, drivers and spotters” at the day Nijjar used to be killed.
“Assets mentioned investigators known the alleged hit squad individuals in Canada some months in the past and feature been conserving them beneath tight surveillance,” the Canadian broadcaster mentioned.
The Prime Fee of India in Ottawa didn’t in an instant reply to Al Jazeera’s request for touch upon Friday afternoon.
Reported threats
Nijjar’s killing continues to lift questions round allegations of Indian overseas interference, specifically inside of Sikh diaspora communities in Canada, the USA and different nations.
In September, Moninder Singh on the BC Gurdwaras Council informed Al Jazeera that he used to be amongst 5 Sikh leaders — together with Nijjar — who have been warned by way of the RCMP’s nationwide safety department in 2022 about threats in opposition to their lives.
Stories of an alleged plot to kill every other distinguished Sikh separatist chief in america have additionally emerged following Nijjar’s demise. In overdue November, america Division of Justice introduced fees in opposition to a 52-year-old Indian nationwide, Nikhil Gupta.
Gupta used to be accused of being a part of a foiled try to assassinate US citizen Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, in coordination with an Indian govt worker and others.
The Washington Submit reported previous this week that US intelligence businesses decided that the operation to focus on Pannun used to be licensed by way of the then-head of India’s overseas intelligence company, referred to as RAW.
The Indian govt rejected the ones allegations as “unwarranted” and “unsubstantiated”, in keeping with media studies.
On Monday, White Space spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre described the Washington Submit document as “a significant subject”.
“The federal government of India has been very transparent with us that they’re taking this critically and can examine — and we think that responsibility from the federal government,” Jean-Pierre informed journalists all through a information briefing.
She added that Washington would proceed to lift considerations with New Delhi.
