Hardeep Singh Nijjar

Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Nijjar in 2020
Born(1977-10-11)11 October 1977
Bhar Singh Pura, Jalandhar, Punjab, India[1][2]
Died18 June 2023(2023-06-18) (aged 45)
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
Cause of deathAssassination
Citizenship
  • India (until 2007)
  • Canada (from 2007)
OrganizationSikhs for Justice
MovementKhalistan

Hardeep Singh Nijjar (11 October 1977 – 18 June 2023) was an Indian-born Canadian Sihk and Sikh separatist leader who was involved with the Khalistan movement, which calls for creating an independent Sikh state in India.[3]

While the Indian government alleged that Nijjar was a "designated terrorist", many Sikh groups viewed Nijjar as an advocate for Sikh independence.[4] Upon India's request, International Interpol notices were issued against Nijjar, accusing him of being the leader of pro-Khalistan militant group, Khalistan Tiger Force.[5][6][7]

Murder and aftermath

Where Nijjar was murdered

On 18 June 2023, Nijjar was sitting in his pickup truck at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia when he was shot and killed by two masked men.[8]

During the 2023 G20 New Delhi summit, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi both met at the meeting. Modi spoke about about Sikh protests and Trudeau told Modi about the accusations that India had Nijjar killed.

On 18 September 2023, Justin Trudeau publicly accused the Indian government of being linked to the killing of Nijjar, while speaking in parliament. He told India to cooperate with the investigation.[9][10] The U.S. Ambassador to Canada, said that some intelligence related the murder was shared with Canada.[11] India's foreign ministry denied any involvement in Nijjar's killing.[12]

After these allegations, diplomatic relations between India & Canada deteriorated. Canada expelled an Indian diplomat, and India also expelled a Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move.[12] As of September 2023, the Canadian authorities had not made any arrests in connection with the murder.[13]

In May 2024, Canadian police arrested three people who are allegedly members of a hit squad which, investigators claim, killed Nijjar on the orders of the Indian Government. Three other murders are also being investigated as having a connection with the group.[14]

References

  1. ↑ "Who Was Hardeep Singh Nijjar? Khalistan Terrorist at Centre of India-Canada Tussle — EXPLAINED". News18. 20 Sep 2023. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 Sep 2023.
  2. ↑ "Why are some Sikhs calling for a separate homeland in India?". BBC News. 19 Sep 2023. Archived from the original on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 25 Sep 2023.
  3. ↑ Singh, Kanishka (19 September 2023). "What is known about the murder of Sikh separatist leader in Canada?". Reuters. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  4. ↑ "Who Was the Man Whose Killing Canada Says India Instigated?". The New York Times. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  5. ↑ Yousif, Nadine (September 23, 2023). "Who was Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar?". BBC News. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  6. ↑ Raj, Suhasini (September 19, 2023). "Who Was the Man Whose Killing Canada Says India Instigated?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023. The government said he led a terrorist organization banned in India, Khalistan Tiger Force.
  7. ↑ Sakshi Dayal, Hardeep Singh Nijjar: Who was the Sikh leader murdered in Canada? Archived 21 September 2023 at the Wayback Machine, Reuters (September 19, 2023): “Nijjar later became chief of the militant group Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF)..., according to a 2020 Indian government statement."
  8. ↑ "Masked gunmen, an ambush, a chase: The execution of Hardeep Singh Nijjar". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  9. ↑ "What We Know About Canada's Claims Against India About a Sikh's Killing". The New York Times. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Canada has Indian diplomats' communications in bombshell murder probe: sources". CBC News. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  11. ↑ "'Shared intelligence' from Five Eyes informed Trudeau's India allegation: U.S. ambassador". CTV News. Archived from the original on September 24, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  12. 1 2 Mogul, Rhea; Newton, Paula (18 September 2023). "India expels Canadian diplomat in tit-for-tat move as row over assassinated Sikh activist deepens". CNN. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  13. ↑ Paula Newton, Rhea Mogul (18 September 2023). "India expels Canadian diplomat in tit-for-tat move as spat over assassinated Sikh activist deepens". CNN. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  14. ↑ Dyer, Evan (2024-05-03). "Police make arrests in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar". CBC. Archived from the original on 2024-05-03. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
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