Who Was Hardeep Singh Nijjar? A Look at the Sikh Leader Murdered in Canada

Hardeep Singh Nijjar: Who was the Sikh leader murdered in Canada?

A sign outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara temple in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada bears witness to the tragic killing of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023. The murder has sparked diplomatic tensions between Canada and India, with Canada suspecting India’s involvement and India dismissing the allegations as “absurd”. Let’s delve into the life of Hardeep Singh Nijjar and the events surrounding his death.

Key Takeaways:

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was born in 1977 in Jalandhar district, Punjab, India, and later moved to Canada in 1997, where he worked as a plumber.

Initially associated with the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) Sikh separatist group, Nijjar later became the chief of the militant group Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF).

New Delhi officially categorized Nijjar as a “terrorist,” accusing him of exhorting seditionary and insurrectionary activities and attempting to create disharmony among different communities in India.

Nijjar held the position of head at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurudwara in Surrey, where he was shot dead on the evening of June 18.

Background and Involvement:

Nijjar was born in Jalandhar district, Punjab, India in 1977. In 1997, he relocated to Canada and worked as a plumber. He initially aligned himself with the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) Sikh separatist group, which has been designated as a “terrorist organization” by India. The Indian government alleges that the BKI receives funding from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) spy agency, although Pakistan denies this claim.

Leadership and Activities:

Over time, Nijjar rose to prominence as the chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), another militant group. The Indian government stated that he was actively involved in operationalizing, networking, training, and financing KTF members. In a 2020 statement, New Delhi officially labeled Nijjar as a “terrorist,” accusing him of promoting sedition and attempting to create disharmony among different communities in India.

Tragic Death and Aftermath:

On the evening of June 18, Nijjar was fatally shot outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurudwara in Surrey, where he served as the head. His murder triggered widespread protests, with hundreds of people gathering outside the Indian consulate in Vancouver. Many of the protestors alleged that foreign entities were involved in Nijjar’s death.

As investigations continue, the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar remains a point of contention between Canada and India, fueling diplomatic tensions and raising questions about the circumstances surrounding his tragic demise.

Reporting by Sakshi Dayal; editing by YP Rajesh and Sharon Singleton

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Source Credit