Canadian authorities have arrested and charged three Indian men in connection with the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, last year. The suspects were named as Karanpreet Singh (28), Kamalpreet Singh (22), and Karan Brar (22). The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) revealed that they are investigating whether the men have ties to the Indian government.
Nijjar, a Canadian citizen advocating for an independent Sikh homeland called Khalistan, was fatally shot outside a Sikh temple in a Vancouver suburb known for its sizable Sikh community. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau previously alluded to evidence linking the Indian government to Nijjar's murder, causing tension between Canada and India.
The RCMP mentioned that they collaborated with U.S. law enforcement during the investigation, hinting that more individuals might be implicated in the crime. The arrested men, all Indian nationals, were apprehended in Edmonton, Alberta, and are expected to be transferred to British Columbia soon.
Balpreet Singh, representing the World Sikh Organization, expressed cautious satisfaction with the arrests but emphasized that questions remain regarding who directed the assailants. The organization stressed the need to dismantle networks supporting such crimes in Canada.
Overall, while the recent arrests mark progress in the case, there is ongoing scrutiny and calls for further action to address the larger issues surrounding these incidents.