Canadian police have arrested and charged three Indian men in connection with the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year, with investigations probing potential ties to the Indian government.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, aged 45, was fatally shot outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver known for its sizable Sikh population. The incident sparked a diplomatic rift between Canada and India after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested evidence of Indian government involvement.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police identified the suspects as Karanpreet Singh (28), Kamalpreet Singh (22), and Karan Brar (22), while indicating a probe into their potential links to the Indian government.
Mandeep Mooker, an RCMP superintendent, stated in a televised news conference, "We're investigating their ties, if any, to the Indian government." However, the Indian mission in Ottawa did not provide any comment on the matter.
Nijjar, a Canadian citizen advocating for the creation of Khalistan, an independent Sikh homeland, had been labeled a "terrorist" by the Indian government. The presence of Sikh separatist groups in Canada has been a source of contention for New Delhi.
Last week, the White House expressed concerns over reported Indian intelligence service involvement in assassination plots in Canada and the United States.
Canadian authorities indicated collaboration with U.S. law enforcement agencies in the investigation but did not provide further details. Assistant RCMP commissioner David Teboul emphasized ongoing efforts to apprehend additional suspects involved in the homicide.
The trio, all Indian nationals, was arrested in Edmonton, Alberta, and is scheduled to be transported to British Columbia by Monday.
Trudeau previously announced Canadian authorities' pursuit of allegations linking Indian government agents to the murder, a claim dismissed by New Delhi as absurd.
Balpreet Singh, legal counsel and spokesperson for the Canada-based World Sikh Organization advocacy group, welcomed the arrests but highlighted the need for further investigation into the orchestrators behind the hit squad.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist targeted in an attempted murder plot in the U.S., called for dismantling networks facilitating such crimes against Canadians on Canadian soil, emphasizing the need for comprehensive action beyond the recent arrests.