Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar of India stated on Saturday that India would await information from Canadian police regarding the three Indian men arrested and charged with the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year.
Canadian authorities charged the three individuals on Friday in connection with the murder of Nijjar and are investigating potential links between the suspects and the Indian government.
Responding to the news of the arrests, Minister Jaishankar acknowledged that the suspects appeared to have some affiliation with Indian gangs and emphasized the need to await official confirmation from the police. Jaishankar reiterated India’s concerns about organized crime from India, particularly from Punjab, operating in Canada. He emphasized the importance of addressing this issue collaboratively.
Sanjay Verma, India’s high commissioner to Canada, expressed the hope for regular updates from Canadian authorities regarding the arrested individuals. He refrained from offering further comments, stating that the matter was internal to Canada.
The trio, all Indian nationals, were apprehended in Edmonton, Alberta, on Friday, according to police reports. The murder victim, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, aged 45, was fatally shot outside a gurdwara in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver known for its significant Sikh population. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had previously insinuated Indian government involvement in the case, leading to diplomatic tensions between Canada and India.
The developments in the investigation continue to draw attention, underscoring the complexities of the case and the diplomatic sensitivities involved between India and Canada.
