Summary: A Sikh separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was murdered in Canada in June 2023, causing diplomatic tensions between Canada and India. Canada suspects India’s involvement in the killing, while India calls the allegations absurd.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar: Who was the Sikh leader murdered in Canada?
The June murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada has sparked diplomatic tensions between Canada and India. Canada suspects Indian involvement in the killing, while India dismisses the allegations as absurd. Nijjar, born in Punjab, India, in 1977, moved to Canada in 1997. He was associated with the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) Sikh separatist group and later became the chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). India considers Nijjar a “terrorist” involved in seditionary activities and attempting to create disharmony among communities in the country.
Background
Nijjar’s association with militant Sikh separatist groups:
Nijjar was initially associated with the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), a Sikh separatist group. India’s counter-terrorist National Investigation Agency considers BKI a “terrorist organization” funded by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) spy agency, a charge that Pakistan denies. Later, Nijjar became the chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), actively involved in operationalizing, networking, training, and financing its members, As seen in the coverage by the Indian government.
The Murder and Controversy
Nijjar’s role as the head of a Sikh place of worship:
Nijjar was elected as the head of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurudwara in Surrey, British Columbia, where he lived. On the evening of June 18, he was shot dead outside the gurudwara. The murder resulted in protests outside the Indian consulate in Vancouver, with allegations of foreign involvement in Nijjar’s death.
Canada’s suspicions and India’s response:
Canada suspects India’s involvement in the murder, leading to diplomatic tensions between the two countries. However, India dismisses the allegations as absurd and denies any involvement.
It is important to note that the information provided in this article is based on the available news sources and may be subject to further investigation and updates.
