‘Awaiting details’: S Jaishankar as Canada arrests 3 Indians in Nijjar killing

NEW DELHI, MAY 5 : India will wait for the Canadian police to share information on the three Indian nationals arrested and charged with the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said.

Jaishankar said he had seen news of the arrests and said the suspects “apparently are Indians of some kind of gang background”.

“We’ll have to wait for the police to tell us,” Jaishankar said.

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“But, as I said, one of our concerns which we have been telling them is that, you know, they have allowed organised crime from India, specifically from Punjab, to operate in Canada,” the minister added.

Canadian police on Friday arrested three members of an alleged hit squad linked to the murder of Nijjar in British Columbia last year.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) named the three men as Karanpreet Singh, 28, Kamalpreet Singh, 22 and Karan Brar, 22. All three were living in Edmonton, Alberta, where they were taken into custody.

“We’re investigating their ties, if any, to the Indian government,” RCMP Superintendent Mandeep Mooker said at a press conference.

The trio has been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, according to court records. They had been in Canada for three to five years. Investigations are ongoing, with Assistant Commissioner David Teboul confirming that there are separate and distinct investigations underway, not limited to the involvement of the individuals arrested.

Investigators believe there may be others involved in the killing, and further arrests or charges are possible.

Nijjar was gunned down on June 18, 2023, shortly after evening prayers at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey.

Meanwhile, Sanjay Verma, India’s High Commissioner to Canada, said the consulate hopes to get regular updates from Canadian authorities regarding the three arrested Indians.

“I understand that the arrests have been made as a result of investigations conducted by the relevant Canadian law enforcement agencies. This issue is internal to Canada, and therefore we have no comments to offer in this regard,” Verma added.

At a separate event, Jaishankar said what is happening in poll-bound Canada over the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar 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 criticising India.

He said a section of pro-Khalistan people are using Canada’s democracy, creating a lobby and have become a vote bank.

The ruling party in Canada has no majority in Parliament and some parties depend on pro-Khalistan leaders, he said.

“We have convinced them several times not to give visa, legitimacy or political space to such people, which is causing problems for them (Canada), for us and also for our relationship,” Jaishankar said.

t the Canadian government has not done anything, Jaishankar said, adding that India sought the extradition of 25 people, most of whom are pro-Khalistan, but they did not pay any heed.

“Canada did not give any proof. They do not share any evidence with us in certain cases, police agencies also do not cooperate with us. It is their political compulsion in Canada to blame India. As an election is coming in Canada, they indulge in vote bank politics,” the External Affairs Minister said.

The killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar ignited an unprecedented diplomatic row between Canada and India.

Prime Minister Trudeau raised concerns about potential Indian government involvement in the killing, an allegation that New Delhi vehemently denied.

-PTI