Three Arrested in Killing of B.C. Sikh Activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar

Three Indian nationals have been arrested and charged in killing of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada, Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Nijjar, 45, was shot dead in June by masked gunmen outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, a Vancouver suburb with a large Sikh population. This sparked a major diplomatic row between the two countries, after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged India’s government may have been involved.

India strongly denied the allegations. Meanwhile, Canadian authorities continued to investigate potential connections to the Indian government.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) announced three arrests on Friday. Three suspects, Karan Brar, 22, Kamal Preet Singh, 22 and Karan Preet Singh, 28, were all taken into custody.

Each suspect face one count of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder in Nijjar’s death. All three were living in Edmonton, Alberta, when they were taken into custody, said the police.

All had been in Canada for three to five years, police said.

“There are separate and distinct investigations ongoing into these matters. Certainly not limited to the involvement of the people arrested today”, said Assistant Commissioner David Teboul. “These efforts include investigating connections to the government of India”, Teboul added.

Authorities believe there may be others involved in the incident. “We remain dedicated to finding and arresting each one of these individuals” said Supt. Mandeep Mooker, the officer in charge of B.C.’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a Sikh separatist leader who publicly campaigned for the creation of an independent Sikh homeland in the Punjab region of India. The Indian government had described him as a terrorist who led a militant separatist group.

Visit www.africanpridemagazine.com for more