Image Credits - The Indian Express
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are on the brink of apprehending two individuals believed to be responsible for the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. These arrests, anticipated in the upcoming weeks, have the potential to further escalate the ongoing diplomatic dispute between India and Canada.
Nijjar’s Assassination and Investigation
On June 18, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent figure in the Khalistan movement, was fatally shot outside a Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia. Since the incident, the suspects have remained within Canada and have been under constant surveillance by law enforcement for several months. The RCMP has refrained from making any official statements regarding the ongoing investigation or the likelihood of imminent charges.
It has been reported that the police will elucidate the alleged involvement of the assassins and the Indian government once charges are officially laid against the two men. It remains uncertain whether the RCMP intends to arrest any suspected accomplices in connection with Mr. Nijjar’s murder. In September, The Washington Post, citing video footage and witness testimonies, disclosed that at least six men and two vehicles were involved in the assassination of Mr. Nijjar.
Nikhil Gupta, an Indian citizen, has emerged as a key figure in the alleged plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh activist based in the United States. On June 30, 2023, Gupta was arrested by Czech authorities, and it is believed that he was recruited by an unidentified employee of the Indian government to carry out the assassination, according to The Globe and Mail.
Before the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, another prominent Sikh figure, Gupta allegedly informed an undercover officer about a significant target in Canada. He also expressed the need for a capable team in Canada to execute another assassination. Gupta reportedly disclosed to the undercover officer, whom he believed to be a criminal associate, that the plotters in India would be coordinating killings in both countries. He specifically mentioned Nijjar as one of the top targets for assassination in Canada and the United States.
Gupta’s alleged involvement goes beyond mere planning. He is accused of contacting an individual in New York to hire a hitman. Unbeknownst to Gupta, this individual and the supposed hitman were working with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
As a result, Gupta now faces charges of murder for hire and conspiracy to murder for hire, with each charge carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. These charges highlight the gravity of the allegations against him and the potential consequences if he is found guilty. As the legal proceedings unfold, more details about this intricate case are expected to come to light.
The assassination has strained diplomatic relations between India and Canada, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accusing the Indian government of being complicit in the killing. India has vehemently denied these allegations, dismissing them as baseless and motivated. In response, India expelled a Canadian diplomat after Ottawa requested the departure of a senior Indian diplomat.
India temporarily suspended visa services to Canada, but later resumed services for four specific categories after conducting a thorough assessment of the security situation. Trudeau also expressed his concern over New Delhi’s decision to expel 40 diplomats, which he believed violated the Vienna Convention. Meanwhile, Canada was actively engaging with international partners to investigate the murder.
India’s Response
On December 20, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the allegations of an Indian conspiracy to harm Nijjar for the first time. During an interview with the Financial Times, Modi expressed, “Should we receive any information, we will certainly investigate it.” Furthermore, he emphasized, “Whether our citizens have engaged in positive or negative actions, we are prepared to thoroughly examine the matter. Our dedication lies in upholding the principles of the rule of law.”
A similar plot has been thwarted by U.S. authorities, strengthening Canada’s claims. In November, U.S. authorities revealed their success in preventing a plan to assassinate a Canadian-American Sikh activist in New York. This discovery also revealed possible connections to the murder of Mr Nijjar and threats against three other Canadian Sikhs. According to a recently unsealed criminal indictment in New York, Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national who was apprehended in the Czech Republic in June, allegedly orchestrated the murder-for-hire of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh activist based in the U.S. and serving as the general counsel for Sikhs for Justice, a New York-based organization.
The forthcoming arrests and potential charges against the suspects are expected to provide more clarity on the case and may further impact the already strained diplomatic relations between India and Canada.