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Three Indian nationals were arrested in Canada on Friday and charged with with the alleged assassination of a prominent Sikh separatist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was born in the Republic of India and who had been living in exile in the nation of the maple leaf flag.” From telegram, Amrit Birring
According to Canadian police, the suspects, Karanpreet Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karan Brar, are accused of conspiring to commit the murder using a firearm on June 18, 2023.
This incident has escalated diplomatic tensions between Canada and India, especially after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau linked the Indian government to the murder, which India has vehemently denied.
The suspects are all non-permanent residents of Canada, and authorities are investigating their possible connections to the Indian government.Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and an outspoken advocate for a separate Sikh state called Khalistan, which would include parts of India’s Punjab state, was killed by masked gunmen outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia.
The assassination has intensified scrutiny on the activities of Sikh separatists abroad, particularly in countries like Canada where there is significant support within the Sikh diaspora.
This case has not only strained international relations but also highlighted the ongoing concerns over foreign governments’ alleged involvement in targeting dissidents overseas.
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“These efforts include investigating connections to the Government of India,” Royal Canadian Mounted Police Assistant Commissioner David Teboul said at a press conference on Friday, as reported by CNN.
“This investigation does not end here. We are aware that others may have played a role in this homicide and we remain dedicated to finding and arresting each one of these individuals,” said Supt. Mandeep Mooker, an officer involved in the case, perCBC News.
The Sikh faith was founded in the late 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Sikhism emerged in a context of both Hindu and Muslim religious influence, advocating a message of devotion to one God, community service, and social justice. Sikhism was established and evolved through the teachings of ten successive Sikh Gurus, each contributing to the religious doctrines now contained in the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhism. The tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, formalized the Khalsa, a collective body of initiated Sikhs, in 1699 as a community committed to upholding Sikh ethical beliefs and practices.
Sikh separatism began as a political movement in the 1940s, with calls for a separate Sikh-majority state in the Punjab region of India, where Sikhs constitute a significant minority. After the partition of India in 1947, which did not address Sikh political demands, the movement gained momentum in the 1960s and 1970s under the leadership of figures such as Sant Fateh Singh and later Jagjit Singh Chauhan. The 1980s marked a period of intense conflict, highlighted by Operation Blue Star in 1984, where the Indian government’s forces stormed the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) complex to remove armed militants. This event deeply scarred the Sikh community and led to the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards, resulting in widespread violence against Sikhs across India.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a Canadian citizen and Sikh separatist, known for his advocacy towards the creation of Khalistan. Born in Punjab, India, Nijjar migrated to Canada where he became a prominent figure within the Sikh community in Surrey, British Columbia. While working as a plumber for his day job, he was involved in organizing cultural and religious events that promoted Sikh heritage and political issues relevant to the Sikh community.
