Canada Names Indian High Commissioner and Diplomats as “Persons of Interest” in Nijjar’s Assassination

The Canadian government has identified Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and several other Indian diplomats as “persons of interest” in the ongoing investigation into the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh leader and Canadian citizen.

Nijjar, a vocal advocate for Khalistan, was shot dead on June 18, 2023, outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia. His body was discovered inside his vehicle near Scott Road. In connection with the case, Canadian authorities have arrested four individuals of Punjabi-Indian descent.

Tensions between Canada and India have been strained since September 2023, when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed credible evidence linked Indian agents to Nijjar’s assassination. New Delhi dismissed the claims as “preposterous,” accusing Trudeau of using the issue for political gains.

India has criticized Canada for failing to provide concrete evidence and accused the Trudeau administration of giving space to extremists targeting Indian diplomats in Canada.

Relations further soured when Canada withdrew over 40 diplomats from India in October 2023, following New Delhi’s demand to reduce their diplomatic presence.