Khalistani terrorist Arsh Dalla, close aide of Nijjar, arrested in Canada: Sources

NEW DELHI, NOV 10 : The Canadian Police have arrested Arshdeep Singh, also known as Arsh Dalla, a Khalistani terrorist and one of India’s most-wanted criminals in connection with a recent shootout in the country last month, sources told India Today TV.

Sources from Indian security agencies have confirmed receiving information about Dalla’s arrest, which occurred after his suspected involvement in an armed confrontation on October 27 or 28 in Milton town.

According to Indian intelligence agencies, Arsh Dalla, who is wanted for various criminal activities in India, has been living in Canada with his wife. Canadian law enforcement agencies, particularly the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS), are investigating the recent shootout.

Indian authorities are closely monitoring developments and coordinating with Canadian officials for further details.

Dalla was the acting chief of the Khalistani Tiger Force and was seen as the successor of slain terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

In September this year, Dalla took responsibility for the murder of Congress leader, Baljinder Singh Balli, who was shot dead at his residence in Punjab’s Moga district. In his post, Dalla claimed that Baljinder Singh Balli had ruined his future and forced him into the gangsters’ world. He also said that the Congress leader was behind his mother’s police custody, which motivated him to seek revenge.

Arsh Dalla, a wanted person on the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) terrorist list, has been allegedly orchestrating criminal activities in Punjab from his base in Canada for the past three to four years. A native of Moga, Dalla is accused of multiple targeted killings in Punjab.

Punjab Police had already busted several modules backed by Dalla with the arrest of his close aides and recovering IEDs, hand-grenades and other arms and ammunition.

Dalla’s arrest comes days after a Hindu temple in Canada was attacked by Khalistani terrorists, prompting strong objections from India and slew of protests by Hindu groups. India condemned the attack at Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton on November 3 with an expectation that those indulging in violence “will be prosecuted”.

The relations between India and Canada took a nosedive after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations in September last year of a “potential” involvement of Indian agents in Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing, a charge outrightly rejected by New Delhi.

-PTI