Recently, the Canadian authorities arrested a fourth Indian involved in the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The arrest came after the police arrested three Indians involved in the murder case, which strained the relationship between India and Canada.
Who is the Arrested Indian?
The fourth Indian arrested in the murder case of Hardeep Singh Nijjar is Amardeep Singh, who is a 22-year-old Indian living in Brampton, Surrey, and some other areas of Abbotsford in Canada. He has been charged with first-degree murder and the conspiracy to murder. Hardeep Singh Nijjar (45 years old) was killed outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurudwara in Surrey, British Columbia, last year in June.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) said that Singh was arrested on 11th May for his role and plot in the killing of the Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. An official said that they already kept Amardeep Singh at the custody of the Peel Regional Police for some charges on keeping unknown firearms.
Canadian Officials On the Arrest
Mandeep Mooker, the Superintendent of RCMP( Royal Canadian Mounted Police) and the officer-in-charge of IHIT(Integrated Homicide Investigation Team) stated that ‘This arrest shows the nature of our ongoing investigation to hold responsible those that played a role in the homicide of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.’
The Canadian police also said that the IHIT has hunted down the evidence and gathered all the required information from the British Columbia Prosecution Service to charge 22-year-old Indian Amardeep Singh with first-degree murder and the scheme to murder Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The investigators refused to share further information about the case as it is an ongoing case.
Previous Indians Arrested For the Murder Of Nijjar
The IHIT (Integrated Homicide Investigation Team) previously arrested three Indian nationals on May 3 who were involved in the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The three Indians were identified as Kamalpreet Singh (22), Karan Brar (22), and 28-year-old Karanpreet Singh.
All three Indian nationals were living in Edmonton, Canada, and were also charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to murder.
Stained Relations Betweeen India and Canada
After the murder of a Khalistani leader in Canada, Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, said that fair and equal justice is going to be delivered to all the Sikhs living in the country after the murder of the Khalistani leader. Trudeau also claimed last year, in September, about the ‘possible’ involvement of Indian spies or agents involved in the murder of Nijjar.
India rubbed off the allegations and claims of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and said it was ‘absurd’ and ‘ motivated‘. Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a Khalistani leader, and he was already wanted in India for various charges of terrorism.
After Trudeau’s allegations, Indian authorities asked the Canadian capital Ottawa to reduce their diplomatic presence in the country to establish a balance between the two countries. The Canadian authorities accepted their request and subsequently removed 41 diplomatic immunities and their families from the nation.
Indian authorities also stopped and suspended the visas of the Canadian citizens in India due to the tensions between both the country.
External Affairs Minister on the India-Canada Issue
S. Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister of India stated that ‘that by allowing political space to Khalistani separatist elements, the Canadian government is sending a message that its vote bank is more powerful than its rule of law.’
He also said India recognizes and practices freedom of speech, but that does not include the freedom to threaten foreign ambassadors or diplomats and give parliamentary support to the people who are sharing the word ‘violence‘.
S. Jaishankar is worried about the number of Khalistani people and leaders who are living in Canada and sharing the word of ‘violence’ against India among the Sikh communities.
