Canada Alleges Indian Involvement In Killing Of Khalistani Terrorist, Expels Top Indian Diplomat

The Canadian government has accused that an Indian agent was involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June in British Columbia. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during an emergency session of the parliament on Monday claimed that his government had "credible allegations" linking Indian agents to the killing of the Khalistan Tiger Force chief and in retaliation dismissed New Delhi's intelligence chief in Ottawa. 

Trudeau's accusation came amid already tense relations between the both countries taking the ties to a new low. Nijjar who was wanted in India was shot dead outside a gurdwara, in a parking area in Canada's Surrey in British Columbia on June 18. 

A native of Bhar Singh Pura village in Punjab's Jalandhar, Nijjar was based out of Surrey and had been declared an "absconder" by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The probe agency in 2022 has announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on Nijjar in connection with the killing of a Hindu priest in Jalandhar.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was also accused of carrying terror activities in India. (Photo credit: Twitter)

ALSO READ: Anantnag Encounter Day 7: Body Of Missing Soldier Found In J&K As Search Operation Continues 

Trudeau said that the Canadian security officials had reasons to believe that "agents of the Indian government" carried out the killing of the Canadian citizen, who was serving as the president of the Guru Nanak Singh Gurdwara in Surrey. 

"Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar," Trudeau said, reported news agency ANI. 

Stressing the involvement of foreign hand or government in the killing of a Canadian citizen is "unacceptable", Canada's PM said it was a "violation" of the country's sovereignty and "contrary to the fundamental rules by which free, open, and democratic societies conduct themselves". 

Trudeau also appealed to the Indian government to cooperate with Canada to get to the bottom of this matter "in the strongest possible terms". "As you would expect, we have been working closely and coordinating with our allies on this very serious matter," he said.

ALSO READ: Aditya L1 Successfully Performs Manoeuvre, Spacecraft Heads To Sun-Earth L1 Point: ISRO

The Canada PM who recently attended the G20 Summit in India claimed that some Indo-Canadians were angry and perhaps "frightened". "Let us allow this to change us," he said. 

"Deeply Concerned": US On Canada's Allegations

The White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson in a statement on Tuesday said that the United States was "deeply concerned" over the accusations made by Trudeau linking government agents to the murder of the separatist leader. 

"We are deeply concerned about the allegations referenced by Prime Minister Trudeau earlier today," the statement read. "We remain in regular contact with our Canadian partners. It is critical that Canada's investigation proceed and the perpetrators be brought to justice," it stated, reported Reuters.