Canada Police arrest, charge 3 in India’s designated terrorist Nijjar’s murder; accused have links with Pakistan’s ISI

Three suspects have been arrested and charged for their alleged involvement in the killing of Nijjar

May 4, 2024

Accused of Nijjar’s murder, involved in drug trafficking, have connections with ISI

Amid Canada alleging India’s hand into its designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing, the Canadian police have arrested and charged three men in connection with the death of Nijjar.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) released photos of the 3 accused involved in the murder of Khalistani separatist Nijjar.

As per court records cited by Canadian news outlet CTV News, Karanpreet Singh (28), Kamalpreet Singh (22), and Karan Brar (22) are each accused of one count of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder in relation to Nijjar’s killing.

Indian officials familiar with the developments said that the three who were named as accused were living in Canada and were involved in the drug trade and were connected to Pakistan spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Nijjar, who was designated a terrorist by the National Investigation Agency in 2020, was shot and killed as he came out of a Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on the evening of June 18, 2023.

Nijjar’s killing triggered diplomatic tensions between Canada and India after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau disclosed intelligence investigations regarding a potential link between the Indian government and the killing.

Speaking at a press briefing, RCMP Assistant Commissioner David Teboul, head of the Federal Policing Program in the Pacific Region, underscored the ongoing and intensive nature of the investigation into Nijjar’s homicide.

“Three suspects have been arrested and charged for their alleged involvement in the killing of Nijjar… We are not able to make any comments on the nature of evidence… Nor can we speak behind the motive of the murder of Nijjar… However, I will say this matter is very much under active investigation,” he said.

“There are separate and distinct investigations ongoing into these matters, certainly not limited to the involvement of the people arrested today, and these efforts include investigating connections to the Government of India,” Teboul also said.

The killing led to accusations from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that the Government of India had a hand in the killing — a claim that was denied by India and led to the deterioration of diplomatic ties between Canada and India.

However, India has consistently refuted this accusation. In September 2023, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated that the Indian government had informed Canada that it is not part of the Government of India’s policy to engage in actions such as the killing of Nijjar.

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