Canadian authorities have made a breakthrough in the high-profile murder case of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader who was gunned down in suburban Vancouver last June.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Assistant Commissioner David Teboul announced on Friday that three suspects have been arrested and charged in connection with the slaying.
The suspects, identified as Kamalpreet Singh, Karan Brar, and Karampreet Singh, were taken into custody in Edmonton, Alberta. While the police have not disclosed the nature of the evidence or the motive behind the murder, they have emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are possible.
“This matter is very much under active investigation,” Assistant Commissioner Teboul said. “We are aware that others may have played a role in this homicide, and we remain dedicated to finding and arresting each one of these individuals.”
Hardeep Singh Nijjar (Credits: Times Colonist)
The murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar had sparked a diplomatic row between Canada and India, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleging “credible allegations” of Indian involvement in the slaying. India had vehemently denied any involvement, accusing Nijjar of links to terrorism.
Nijjar, a 45-year-old plumber and leader in the Khalistan movement, had denied allegations of ties to terrorism. The Khalistan movement, which seeks to create an independent Sikh homeland, has lost much of its political power since the bloody insurgency of the 1970s and 1980s. However, it still has supporters in the Indian state of Punjab and among the overseas diaspora.
Canada Arrests Suspects In Khalistani Terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjars Killing (Credits: NDTV)
The Indian government has repeatedly warned of a possible resurgence of Sikh separatism, and the murder of Nijjar had raised concerns about the revival of the movement. The arrests in Canada are seen as a huge development in the case, and the investigation is ongoing.
Superintendent Mandeep Mooker of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police emphasized that the investigation does not end with these arrests. “We remain dedicated to finding and arresting each one of these individuals who may have played a role in this homicide,” he said.
