NEW DELHI : India has assured its cooperation with Canadian authorities following reports that two individuals linked to the murder of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar are under surveillance.
The Globe and Mail reported that the suspects have been in Canada since the murder, and details about their involvement and any connection to the Indian government will be revealed when charges are laid.
The killing took place in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, and the suspects, allegedly involved, are expected to be arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in the coming weeks.
The report indicates that details about the alleged assassins’ involvement and any connection to the Indian government will be disclosed by the police when charges are laid against the two men.
Nijjar’s murder strained bilateral relations between India and Canada, following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s assertion in the House of Commons on September 18 that there were “credible allegations” linking Indian agents to the murder. Nijjar, labelled a terrorist by India, served as the principal for the secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) in the province of British Columbia.
India’s High Commissioner to Ottawa, Sanjay Kumar Verma, responded to the report, stating, “We still don’t have any information on that, so I’ll wait till the time the information is shared.” He emphasized India’s commitment to cooperation, adding, “What we have been assuring at all levels is that if there is anything specific and relevant, we shall look into it. So, we’ll wait till the time the Canadian authorities approach us and share with us the information that they have, and then we will evaluate the information and look into things.”
While India has initiated a high-level inquiry into the alleged plot involving SFJ’s general counsel Gurpatwant Pannun, no similar action has been taken in connection to Nijjar’s killing. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) is currently investigating the murder. In an update in August, IHIT confirmed that a 2008 silver Toyota Camry was used in the crime, and a third person was involved in driving the getaway vehicle. A grainy image of the driver, captured by CCTV in the vicinity, was also released by IHIT.
