Canadian police on Wednesday ruled out any evidence linking Indian government officials to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The statement comes nearly three years after former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged a possible link between Indian government officials and the killing of Nijjar.
No Evidence Against Indian Officials
RCMP Deputy Commissioner Lisa Moreland said the investigation is still ongoing, but there is currently no evidence connecting Indian government officials to the killing. “There is no evidence to suggest that, through this organised crime syndicate investigation and the charges laid forward, that Indian government officials would be charged or involved in this... Nothing has come out to link the Indian government,” Moreland told Canadian state-broadcaster, CBC News.
She informed the investigation is continuing based on arrests and evidence collected so far. ‘The Indian government was cooperating in this investigation,” Moreland added. The statement by the RCMP comes as US authorities have also charged individuals linked to organised crime in connection with Nijjar's murder. However, the US has not accused the Indian government of involvement.
Statement Challenges Trudeau's Earlier Claims
The RCMP's statement is considered an important development because it contradicts Trudeau's statement in September 2023. At that time, Trudeau told the Canadian Parliament that security agencies were investigating "credible allegations" of a "potential link" between Indian agents and Nijjar's killing. India had repeatedly rejected these claims, saying Ottawa had not provided any proof to support the allegations.
The allegations made by Trudeau strained relations between India and Canada, with both countries expelling diplomats and pausing several diplomatic activities. Under new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, the two countries have started efforts to rebuild ties after years of tension.
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Who Was Hardeep Singh Nijjar?
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a Canadian citizen and the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). India had designated him a terrorist in 2020. He was shot dead by two masked attackers outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, in 2023.
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