• Source:JND
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Hardeep Singh Nijjar Killed: Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Khalistani terrorist wanted by the Indian government, was killed in a targeted shooting in Canada's Surrey at around 8.27 p.m. (local time) on Sunday. According to the news agency PTI, he was killed outside a gurudwara in the North American country. 

Punjab police had sought the extradition of Nijjar as he was wanted in cases related to acts of reviving terrorism in the state. The police was demanding his extradition in pursuance of a lookout circular (LOC) issued on January 23, 2015, and a red corner notice issued on March 14, 2016. Nijjar was designated as an 'individual terrorist' by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in July 2020.

Who Was Hardeep Singh Nijjar?

Nijjar, a resident of a village in Jalandhar, was director of Sikhs for Justice (SFP), which has been declared a separatist organisation and is banned in India. He played a key role in organising the Khalistan referendum in Brampton. It was claimed that more than one lakh people took part in the activity. India had lodged a protest with the government of Canada for allowing anti-India activity on its land. 

Nijjar used to lead campaigns and propaganda against India and was active in organising and leading demonstrations outside Indian missions in the US, the UK, Germany, and Canada. According to various media reports, he was also behind targeted killings in Punjab.

According to the NIA, Nijjar had been active in recruiting, training, financing, and operationalising pro-Khalistan terrorist modules for spreading terror in India. He was also involved in giving inflammatory and hateful speeches via social media platforms.

Hardeep's name was also attached among the four persons against whom a chargesheet was filed by the NIA in connection with a conspiracy to kill Kamadleep Sharma, a Hindu priest in Jalandhar. According to the NIA, as quoted by The Tribune, the conspiracy was hatched by Arshdeep and Nijjar, both based in Canada, to disturb peace and disrupt communal harmony in Punjab by killing a Hindu priest.

India also asked the Canadian authorities to take action against Hardeep Singh for his alleged involvement in terrorist activities in Punjab. 

Nijjar used to work with Avtar Singh Khanda, a Khalistani leader of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) who died due to cancer in the UK last week.

(With input from agencies)