Canadian law enforcement officials have announced the arrest and charging of three individuals in connection with the assassination of prominent Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar was tragically killed in June last year in the parking lot of his gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia.
The suspects, identified as Karanpreet Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karan Brar, have been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The arrests mark a significant development in a case that has drawn international attention and diplomatic tensions.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau previously stated in Parliament that there were “credible allegations” suggesting the involvement of Indian authorities in the assassination, describing it as an “unacceptable violation of our sovereignty.” This assertion has since led to a cooling of relations between Canada and India, with Canada expressing concerns over a pattern of violence targeting dissidents abroad.
The three accused, reported to be Indian citizens who entered Canada post-2021 on student visas, are alleged not to have pursued education and do not possess permanent residency status in Canada. Investigations have linked them not only to Nijjar’s assassination but potentially to three other homicides in Canada, including a particularly grievous case involving an 11-year-old boy in Edmonton.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) of British Columbia and the integrated homicide investigation team are scheduled to provide further details on these arrests and their implications later today.
This case underscores the ongoing challenges in safeguarding the rights and safety of individuals on Canadian soil against transnational threats and highlights the commitment of Canadian authorities to pursuing justice for victims of such heinous acts.