KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
One of the accused in the murder case of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar has been attacked by a fellow inmate inside the detention centre in Canada’s Surrey, News 18 reported citing sources. The circumstances, under which the attack took place, are however unclear.
Sources revealed that the individual, whose identity remains undisclosed, is safe and did not suffer any serious injuries. They also ruled out the theories suggesting that the attack was intended to destroy evidence.
Notably, Canada's Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) on May 3 arrested three Indian nationals-- Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh and Karanpreet Singh-- in connection with the killing of Nijjar. They face charges of conspiracy and first-degree murder. Later on May 12, another accused Amardeep Singh was arrested on similar charges.
The trial of the trio is yet to begin, and they remain in custody at the Surrey detention centre.
Nijjar’s Killing:
Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed on June 18 last year after being shot by unidentified assailants in Surrey, Canada. He was the head of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Sahib. Nijjar was India’s one of the most-wanted terrorists and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had declared a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on him.
A diplomatic tussle ensued between India and Canada after Justin Trudeau, while addressing the parliament, said their agencies were actively perusing ‘credible allegations’ of potential links between agents of the government of India in the killing of a Canadian citizen (referring to the murder of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey on June 18).
Since then, both nations have been at loggerheads over a plethora of issues taking place in the backdrop of Nijjar’s killing.