Ottawa:
A Canadian court has granted bail to Khalistan terrorist Arshdeep Singh Gill, alias Arsh Dalla, the de facto head of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force, amid pressure from India for his extradition. The Khalistani terrorist was granted bail on the condition that he post a bond of $30,000. The next hearing in his case is scheduled for February 24, 2025.
Dalla was arrested in Halton, Canada in October after he was injured in an attack by unknown gunmen. Since then, India has been trying to extradite him from Canada. Sources said the Khalistni terrorist was given permission despite non-cooperation from Indian authorities.
They said that despite the bail order, India will continue to raise the issue with Canadian authorities.
India's push for Dalla's extradition
Last month, the Department of Foreign Affairs said a court in Ontario, Canada, had entered his extradition request for hearing and sent separate requests to verify financial details, as provided last year. The ministry labeled Dalla a “proclaimed perpetrator,” named in more than 50 cases of murder, attempted murder, extortion and terrorist acts, including terrorist financing. He was designated a 'terrorist' in January last year and has also been accused in several cases filed by the National Criminal Investigation Department.
According to sources, the Khalistani terrorist has been in direct contact with Pakistani intelligence agency ISI. Delhi also believes he took over the reins of the Khalistani terror group after Hardeep Nijjar was shot dead in June 2023.
Arsh Dalla's arrest
Sources said Dalla, a resident of Moga district in Punjab, was arrested on October 28 in Ontario, Canada. According to sources, Arsh Dalla was traveling in a car along with his partner Gurjant Singh in the Halton area when a fire accidentally broke out. weapon kept in the vehicle.
“The bullet hit Dalla's right hand and Singh was also injured. They were admitted to hospital, where authorities alerted police. When Dalla was questioned about injuries, Dalla then told police a fake story about an attack on him,” they said them.
During the investigation, Canadian police searched their vehicle – a gray Dodge Durango – and found bullet marks on the SUV, as well as two bullet casings on the floor of the passenger seat.
A day later, Dalla's home was searched and a Taurus 9mm pistol, with a loaded magazine, was recovered, as well as a rifle, a shotgun and two high-capacity magazines in a gun safe. Dalla and his associate, Gurjant Singh, were arrested and charged with several serious charges, including illegal possession of weapons and tampering with evidence.
Rise of Arsh Dalla
Dalla, once a local gangster from Dala village in Punjanb's Moga, climbed the list of India's most wanted terrorists after taking over the reins of KTF following Nijjar's killing last year. He started his criminal career as a local gangster before moving to Canada on a study visa in 2020. He returned to Punjab after a dispute with gangster Sukha Lumma. Later he and his associates murdered Lumma and fled again to Canada. According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Dalla now lives with his family in Surrey, British Columbia.
According to sources, Dalla used social media to recruit youth from Punjab and Haryana to expand his terror network.
