Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar stated that India will await information from Canadian police regarding the arrest and charges against three Indian men accused of murdering Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year.
Canadian authorities charged the three men in connection with Nijjar’s murder and are investigating potential ties between the suspects and the Indian government.
Jaishankar acknowledged the news of the arrests, noting that the suspects are believed to have backgrounds in gang activities, but emphasized the need to await official information from the police.
The three suspects, all Indian nationals, were apprehended in Edmonton, Alberta.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, aged 45, was fatally shot outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver with a significant Sikh community. His advocacy for Khalistan, an independent Sikh homeland, made him a prominent figure.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau previously referenced credible allegations of Indian government involvement in Nijjar’s murder, leading to a diplomatic standoff with India.
Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, was known for his activism in support of Khalistan, which has been a contentious issue between India and Sikh separatist groups.
The cooperation between Canadian and U.S. law enforcement agencies was mentioned in the investigation, although specific details were not provided. Further arrests are anticipated, according to Canadian authorities.
