Indian national arrested in murder of Sikh separatist leader Canada
Indian citizen charged with killing Sikh separatist leader in Canada.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
A fourth Indian national has been taken into custody in connection with the shocking assassination of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada last year.
Amandeep Singh, aged 22, was previously detained on an unrelated charge before being identified as a suspect in the slaying of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, as confirmed by authorities on Saturday.
Background of the Case
The victim, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was fatally shot outside the religious institution he oversaw, Guru Nanak Gurdwara, in the suburb of Surrey, Vancouver, on June 18.
Earlier this month, three other Indian nationals residing temporarily in Canada — Kamalpreet Singh, 22, Karan Brar, 22, and Karanpreet Singh, 28 — were apprehended and charged with Nijjar’s murder. They made their initial court appearances last week.
Sikh Independence Advocacy
Nijjar was a prominent proponent for the establishment of an autonomous Sikh nation known as Khalistan within the Indian state of Punjab, which has a sizable Sikh population.
In 2016, India labelled Nijjar as a terrorist and sought his extradition from Canada, a request that was ultimately denied.
Recent Developments
Prior to his untimely demise, Nijjar had been alerted to potential threats on his life but chose not to employ personal security. Witnesses reported that two assailants opened fire on Nijjar in the gurdwara’s parking lot.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hinted in September that there existed compelling evidence linking the Indian government to Nijjar’s assassination. In response, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed shock at the accusation and ordered the expulsion of numerous Canadian diplomats.
Key Suspect
Amandeep Singh is believed to be one of the two gunmen involved, as per sources cited by Global News in Canada. Singh was detained in November 2023 in Brampton, a suburb of Toronto, on charges related to firearms and narcotics, and has been held in custody since then.
Law enforcement officials have speculated that the four suspects may have connections to the Bishnoi crime syndicate, as reported by Global News. Singh was apprehended alongside four other individuals during his arrest outside Toronto.
International Ramifications
In late November 2023, the FBI disclosed that it had thwarted a similar-sounding plot to assassinate another prominent Sikh activist, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, in New York. Charging documents in that case suggested that both Pannun and Nijjar were targets of the Indian government.
Indian authorities have vehemently denied any involvement in Nijjar’s killing or in any scheme against Pannun, asserting that such allegations are baseless.
Historical Context
The Sikh separatist movement reached its peak in the 1980s before facing a brutal crackdown by the Indian government that resulted in numerous casualties. In a significant event in 1984, Indian forces launched an assault on an armed Sikh faction at the Golden Temple, the holiest site in Sikhism.
Following the seizure of the temple, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards.
With News Wire Services
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Indian national arrested, murder Sikh separatist leader Canada.
