KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
04-May-2024
An interim report by Ottawa's commissioner Marie-Josee Hogue alleged India's attempts to influence Canadian politicians on Khalistani separatist issues, citing concerns over interference in the last two federal elections. The report flagged India's interest in Canada's South Asian community and its view of Khalistani sympathizers as a threat. It also mentions China as the primary perpetrator of foreign interference in Canada. India has rejected the allegations, citing concerns over Canada's support for separatists and terrorists. Diplomatic tensions between the two countries escalated following Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau’s accusations of Indian involvement in Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar's killing, leading to a reduction in diplomatic presence and visa restrictions.
04-May-2024
According to CBC News, the three Indian men Karanpreet Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karan Brar, arrested in connection with the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar are believed to be linked to gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.
04-May-2024
Khalistani terrorist and the chief of the banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, accused the Indian government of instructing the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) to order and organize the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He stated that such hit squads operating in Canada pose a significant challenge to national security.
04-May-2024
Reports indicate that the arrest of three Indian nationals by Canadian authorities in connection with the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar suggests a possible link to a broader gang war for control over resource-rich gurdwaras in Canada. Nijjar, associated with banned terrorist groups like the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), held influence as the president of a prominent Sikh gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia province in Canada. The arrested individuals, allegedly part of a hit-squad, entered Canada as international students and are suspected to have been involved in multiple criminal activities, including a shootout in November 2023. These incidents reflect ongoing conflicts between rival gangs, such as the Bambiha gang and Lawrence Bishnoi's syndicate, vying for supremacy and seeking revenge, often recruiting Punjabi youth migrating to Canada.
03-May-2024
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on May 3 arrested three Indian nationals, identified as Karan Brar, Karanpreet Singh, and Kamalpreet Singh, suspected of being part of a hit squad allegedly tasked by the Indian government to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Edmonton, Alberta province, Canada. All three individuals have been living in Canada as non-permanent residents for several years.
01-May-2024
Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau, in an interview with Punjabi-language Y Media on May 1, acknowledged the impact of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar's killing on India-Canada ties, emphasizing the need for both countries to “get along." Trudeau stated that while Canada and India are the world's two largest democracies, Nijjar's killing has strained relations. He reiterated Canada's stance on peaceful expression but underscored the importance of addressing concerns seriously, despite ongoing tensions stemming from the murder.
29-Apr-2024
Social media users in India expressed outrage over Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's attendance at a Khalsa Day celebration in Toronto, Canada, where pro-Khalistan slogans were chanted. Some demanded that the Indian government recall its diplomatic personnel from Canada and take corresponding measures in response.
28-Apr-2024
At a Khalsa Day celebration on April 28, Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau assured the Sikh community of his government's commitment to protecting their rights and defending against hatred, amid chants of 'Khalistan Zindabad', in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
20-Apr-2024
On April 20, the annual Vaisakhi parade took place, drawing over half a million attendees, which was dedicated to Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Surrey in British Columbia province in Canada. Khalistan advocate and New Democratic Party (NDP) Leader Jagmeet Singh was also present and addressed the crowd.
20-Apr-2024
Canada’s New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh on April 20 stated that his party plans to seek official recognition of the '1984 Sikh genocide' in Parliament, while speaking at the Vaisakhi parade in Surrey in British Columbia province in Canada.
18-Apr-2024
On April 18, Khalistani protesters commemorated 300 days since the death of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar by accusing the Indian government of involvement in Nijjar's death and burning and slashing Indian flags outside the Indian Consulate in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Protesters, organised by Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), chanted for Khalistan independence, while SFJ chief and Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun accused Indian spies of operating from the consulate.
17-Apr-2024
On April 17, Canada issued an updated travel advisory for India, warning its citizens about the upcoming Lok Sabha elections scheduled from April 19 to June 1, 2024. The advisory emphasized the potential for demonstrations before, during, and after the elections and advised travellers to stay vigilant.
16-Apr-2024
Canada’s 2024 budget, presented on April 16, marked a historic inclusion of the Hindu community as stakeholders for the first time, with the Canadian Hindu Chamber of Commerce (CHCC) invited to an access-restricted reading on April 2 in Ottawa, Canada. The CHCC hailed this as a significant recognition of the Hindu community’s advocacy for businesses and professionals. While substantial allocations were made towards promoting Sikh heritage, including funding for a Sikh arts and culture museum in Toronto, the CHCC expressed concerns over the absence of targeted provisions for the Hindu community in the budget. The government’s commitment to diversity and preserving South Asian heritages was highlighted, yet the CHCC emphasized the need for equitable treatment and representation in governmental initiatives.
16-Apr-2024
Recently, around 1,000 people gathered to commemorate the 40th anniversary of anti-Sikh violence, urging Canada to recognize the 1984 massacre as Sikh genocide and pressuring India for justice, at the Rose Theatre in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. Despite Ontario's recognition in 2017, the Canadian federal government has not yet followed suit.
10-Apr-2024
According to sources, in a top-secret intelligence briefing, Canada's Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) revealed China's "clandestine and deceptive" interference in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. China aimed to sway outcomes in favour of candidates aligning with Beijing's interests. The public inquiry, led by Justice Marie-Josée Hogue, delves into these claims. Trudeau defended his government's response, citing increased measures to counter foreign interference since 2015, but cautioned about uncorroborated intelligence in the inquiry. Other nations like India and Pakistan were also implicated, with India allegedly engaging in interference to suppress support for a Khalistani separatist movement. Hogue is expected to release a final report with all details from the public inquiry in December 2024.
10-Apr-2024
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated on April 10 that he stands by his government's commitment to defending citizens' rights to speak out, even if it causes friction with the Indian government, during a testimony before the ongoing Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions, which is headed by Justice Marie-Josee Hogue in Ottawa, Canada. Trudeau highlighted allegations of Indian interference in Canada's internal affairs and referenced his concerns over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Additionally, Trudeau criticized the previous government's relationship with India, suggesting it was "cosy."
09-Apr-2024
On April 9, Buta Singh Gill, the president of a gurdwara and owner of a construction firm, along with another individual named Nik Dhaliwal, were shot dead near a construction site in the Millwoods area of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, in what appears to be a targeted attack by Indian gangsters. Another person, Sarbajit Singh, is currently hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. Connections between these gangsters and pro-Khalistan elements in Canada have surfaced, with reports suggesting extortion attempts aimed at affluent Indian-origin Canadians. The Edmonton police have previously linked extortions targeting affluent individuals of Indian origin to a criminal network operating from India, with investigations ongoing into multiple related incidents including arsons and firearms offences.
04-Apr-2024
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) on April 4 released a report indicating possible meddling by India and Pakistan in Canada's elections, involving clandestine activities and illegal financial support to candidates sympathetic to their interests. The report suggests that India may have used proxy agents and targeted districts with Indo-Canadian voters sympathetic to Pakistan or the Khalistan movement. However, Pakistan's interference was described as limited, with the Canadian government taking action to mitigate the threat.
29-Mar-2024
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau, the Hindu Forum Canada (HFC) on March 29 urged PM Trudeau to prevent the glorification of terrorism in Canada and address concerns about safety among Canadian Hindus. The HFC expressed dismay over Trudeau's statements potentially emboldening extremist elements like Khalistani terrorist and the chief of the Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. HFC also criticized Member of Parliament (MP) Sukh Dhaliwal's motion M-112, fearing it legitimizes baseless allegations, posing a danger to Hindu and broader Canadian communities.
27-Mar-2024
The public inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian federal elections began on March 27 with activists, including Jaskaran Sandhu, a board member of the World Sikh Organisation (WSO) and founder of the pro-separatist Baaz media outlet, speaking at a Canadian inquiry on alleged Indian interference, in Ottawa in Canada. Sandhu accused Indian agencies of infiltrating Sikh institutions since the 1980s, claiming Indian consulates engage in espionage targeting dissenting Sikhs abroad. He linked Indian officials to violence, citing the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.
27-Mar-2024
Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau, while speaking at an event in Vancouver, Canada, on March 27, expressed Canada's commitment to investigating the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and sought cooperation with India.
23-Mar-2024
According to sources, the Indian government has provided the latest coordinates of Canada-based designated terrorist Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dala of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), to the Canadian government, urging them to make a provisional arrest. Dala, previously associated with Punjab-based gangsters, shifted to Canada to work with the erstwhile KTF chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar. After Nijjar's death, Dala took over KTF operations, orchestrating targeted killings in India. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) declared Dala a designated terrorist on January 9, 2023, due to his involvement in heinous crimes and terror activities. Despite India's requests, the Canadian government has not taken any action against Dala.
22-Mar-2024
Peel police recently revealed that suspects involved in the killing of a Sikh couple in Caledon in November 2023 were potentially linked to several other shootings and homicides in Brampton and Mississauga in Canada. Jagtar Singh Sidhu and Harbhajan Kaur, both in their 50s, were shot more than 20 times, while their daughter Jaspreet Kaur Sidhu sustained 13 gunshot wounds, on November 20, 2023, at their rental property along the Caledon-Brampton border in Canada. Authorities urged anyone with information to come forward through dedicated tip lines and Crime Stoppers.
16-Mar-2024
Pro-Khalistan demonstrators, some wielding weapons, on March 16 protested outside a venue in Calgary, Alberta, Canada where India’s High Commissioner to Ottawa, Sanjay Kumar Verma, was attending a community event. Khalistani elements used daggers and swords to tear apart the Indian flag, escalating tensions. Indo-Canadians formed a counter-group across the street, while Verma's safety was ensured by Global Affairs Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
11-Mar-2024
Pro-Khalistan protesters on March 11 raised derogatory slogans targeting the Indian High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, at an event organized by the Indo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) in Edmonton, Alberta province, Canada. They targeted the envoy over alleged Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, Canada, in 2023. Despite attempts to disrupt, the event proceeded successfully, with Canadian authorities securing the route for the envoy.