Canada claims “Indian agents” were behind the killing of separatists in Surrey (representative)
New Delhi:
At least nine separatist organizations that support terror groups have bases in Canada and despite multiple deportation requests, Ottawa has taken no action against those involved in heinous crimes, including the killing of popular Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala, officials said.
Pro-Khalistani units such as the World Sikh Organization (WSO), Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), working on behalf of Pakistan, are said to operate freely from the Canadian border. land, they said.
The allegations against India by Canadian authorities and politicians regarding the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist and Canadian citizen, are false and based on unfounded assumptions, they added.
The issue of deportations of wanted terrorists and gangsters has been raised by Indian authorities during multiple diplomatic and security talks, but Canadian authorities have remained non-committal and unashamed in supporting these terror elements, the officials said.
Several files have been transferred to the Canadian side, but India’s deportation requests have gone unanswered, they said, adding that at least nine separatist organizations supporting terror groups have made base in Canada.
Eight people involved in terror activities and as many gangsters, who have conspired with Pakistan’s spy agency ISI, have found safe haven in Canada, officials said.
Deportation requests for these people — including Gurwant Singh, who was involved in terrorist activities in the early 1990s — have been pending with Canadian authorities for years, they said. He also has an Interpol Red Corner Notice pending.
The officials said Indian authorities had requested the deportation of Gurpreet Singh, who is also involved in terror cases, and provided his Canadian address, but no action was taken.
They said the request for deportation of dreaded gangsters including Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dalla, wanted in 16 criminal cases, Satinderjit Singh Brar alias Goldy Brar, who took responsibility for the murder of famous Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala, was filed with evidence against them, but no action was taken by the Canadian government.
The separatist organization openly made assassination threats, fueled the separatist agenda and carried out targeted killings in India, they said.
They pointed out that the high-profile murder of popular singer Sidhu Moose Wala by the Canada-based gangster with links to pro-Khalistan elements “is a classic example of this”.
Other Canada-based wanted terrorists include Gurwant Singh Bath of Khalistan’s Dashmesh Regiment, Bhagat Singh Brar (who is the son of Pakistan-based terrorist Lakhbeer Singh Rhode), Moninder Singh Bual and Satinder Pal Singh Gill, they said.
Nijjar, who took a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh, was born in Punjab on November 10, 1977 and was affiliated with the now banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). He was arrested in the mid-1990s. He managed to get bail and fled India on February 19, 1997 by assuming the false identity of Ravi Sharma and securing a travel document in that name.
In 2013-2014, Nijjar visited Pakistan where he met Jagtar Singh Tara of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), who was wanted for the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. He was hired by the ISI during that period, which helped him organize secret training camps for Sikh extremist groups linked to the Khalistan movement in Missigen Hills, British Columbia.
Nijjar, who was declared a terrorist by the Union Home Ministry, was also accused of working closely with Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) led by Jagtar Singh Tara. He is associated with Dal Khalsa leader Gajender Singh, a key suspect in the 1981 Indian Airlines flight hijacking.
His name was on the most wanted list that then Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amrinder Singh presented to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2018.
Nijjar, along with criminals like Arsh Dalla, generated huge amounts of money for anti-India activities through various means, including drug money and Gurdwaras’ finances, the officials said.
They said Canada’s current diplomatic standoff with India appears to be motivated by failures on the domestic political front and the declining popularity of the current government, and that the expulsion of an Indian diplomat appears aimed at gaining support from the Sikh population, especially those who harbor pro-Khalistan sentiments. .
The officials also pointed out that support for extremist elements and gangsters in Canada is closely linked to the political realities affecting the vote bank in several Sikh-dominated constituencies.
They pointed to the role of Jagmeet Singh Dhaliwal, a Burnaby South MP belonging to the New Democratic Party of Canada, who has been an outspoken supporter of the Khalistan referendum that seeks a balkanization of India and stokes separatist sentiments among Canadian Sikhs .
Dhaliwal was earlier blacklisted for his anti-India activities.
The officials said Canadian authorities have failed to uncover any direct association of Indian authorities with Nijjar’s killing and pointed to the new killing of another Canadian national, Ripudaman Malik, who faced the anger of Nijjar and Sikh for Justice for printing Shri Guru. Granth Sahib by Satnam Religious Prachaar Society (SRPS). A few days later he was murdered by unknown gunmen.
The officials said Nijjar’s killing was the result of internal rivalry between different groups.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
