Terming the preliminary investigation findings in the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar as poll-bound Canada’s “internal matter”, India on Saturday requested “specific and relevant evidence” regarding any alleged involvement of the Indian government.
Canadian authorities have arrested three Indian nationals in connection with Nijjar’s killing.
In a statement, the Indian High Commissioner in Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma said India hopes to get regular updates from the concerned Canadian authorities regarding the arrested Indian nationals in the case.
“We have been informed by Canadian officials about the arrest of three Indian nationals, residing in Canada, in connection with the shooting of a Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar. We hope to get regular updates from the concerned Canadian authorities regarding the arrested Indian nationals,” he said.
Nijjar, who was designated a terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2020, was killed outside a Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in June last year.
Stating that the arrests made in the case are the “result of investigations conducted by the relevant Canadian law enforcement agencies”, Verma said the “issue is internal to Canada and therefore we have no comments to offer in this regard.”
“As stated time and again, it is not the policy of the Government of India to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. We are always ready to work with partner countries in solving crimes, provided specific and relevant evidence is shared with us,” he added.
‘Canada’s Internal Politics’
Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also said what is happening in Canada over Nijjar’s Killing is mostly due to their internal politics and nothing to do with India.
Jaishankar said this while replying to a question on why Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is criticizing India.
“India’s image globally is now actually much much higher than it had been ever… Canada is an exception. You see the different country heads are praising Bharat and its Prime Minister,” the external affairs minister told the media in Bhubaneshwar.
He said a section of pro-Khalistan people are using Canada’s democracy, creating a lobby and have become a vote bank.
Three Indians Arrested In Canada
After the arrest of three Indian nationals, Canadian authorities have said that their investigation has not concluded and “others” who played a role in the homicide would also be arrested.
Karan Brar, 22, Kamalpreet Singh, 22, and Karanpreet Singh, 28, all Indian nationals residing in Edmonton have been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on Friday said they are investigating if the Indian government was involved in the killing of Nijjar, a Canadian citizen. The three are believed to be members of an alleged hit squad tasked by the government of India with the killing of Nijjar, 45, outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023.
“The investigation does not end here. We are aware that there are others out there that played a role in this homicide and we remain dedicated to identifying and arresting each one of them, Superintendent Mandeep Mooker,” Officer in Charge of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) said.
The ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations in September last year of the “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar.
India has dismissed Trudeau’s charges as “absurd” and “motivated.”
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