In a significant development in the murder case of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, authorities have arrested a fourth suspect, who is alleged to have been one of the gunmen in the June 2023 shooting outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia. The suspect, identified as Amandeep Singh, a 22-year-old Indian citizen residing in Brampton, Ontario, has been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Singh has been in custody since November on unrelated charges.
Sources close to the investigation report that Singh and another unidentified individual are believed to have targeted Nijjar as he left the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple in Surrey. The duo reportedly fled to a getaway car immediately after the shooting.
Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and the temple president, was a well-known figure in the Khalistan movement, which advocates for the independence of Punjab. The Indian government had previously accused him of leading a terrorist group, although these allegations have not been substantiated with credible evidence.
This case has drawn international attention, particularly after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested potential involvement by the Indian government in Nijjar’s murder. The recent arrests on May 3 in Edmonton of three other Indian nationals, Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karanpreet Singh, have further complicated the narrative, pointing to possible connections between the suspects and the Bishnoi crime group in India.
Canada’s national security agencies are continuing to explore the disturbing trend of foreign intelligence services allegedly hiring criminal groups to execute transnational killings. This investigation is part of broader concerns about foreign interference in Canada, echoing recent warnings by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service about activities by major state actors.
The legal proceedings against the suspects are ongoing, with the case shedding light on the broader implications of transnational violence and the challenges of protecting citizens from such threats on Canadian soil.