• Source:JND
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Khalistani terrorist Inderjit Singh Gosal, a close associate of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has been arrested in Canada on multiple criminal charges, according to officials familiar with the development. The arrest marks a significant step at a time when India and Canada are cautiously working to rebuild strained diplomatic ties. 

Who Is Inderjit Singh Gosal?

Gosal, 36, is considered one of the most trusted lieutenants of Pannun, the US-based chief of the banned outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). Authorities in Ottawa detained him earlier this week on charges linked to illegal firearms possession. Investigators are examining his role in coordinating Khalistani activities in Canada, particularly after the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023.

Following Nijjar’s death, Gosal reportedly emerged as a key organiser of SFJ’s activities in Canada. Security agencies believe he not only mobilised funding and manpower but also acted as Pannun’s personal security officer during high-profile events.

This is not the first time Gosal has faced police action. In November last year, Peel Regional Police (PRP) arrested him in connection with a violent incident at a Hindu temple in the Greater Toronto Area. Worshippers were allegedly assaulted during the attack. Although he was granted conditional release at that time, officials had warned that he remained under close watch due to his links with separatist elements.

Investigators have previously described Gosal as the “principal organiser” of the so-called Khalistan referendum held across Canadian cities, despite strong objections from India.

Pannun, who holds both US and Canadian citizenship, was declared an “individual terrorist” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) by India’s Ministry of Home Affairs in July 2020. A year earlier, his organisation, Sikhs for Justice, was banned as a terrorist outfit. Authorities in India have registered over 100 cases against SFJ and its chief, with nearly 60 cases reported from Punjab alone. Officials say the group continues to push anti-India propaganda abroad under the guise of human rights and free speech.

Arrest Follows Thaw In Bilateral Relations

The arrest of Gosal comes weeks after India and Canada restored normal diplomatic operations by reappointing their high commissioners to New Delhi and Ottawa. The development is being seen as a shift from Canada’s earlier permissive stance on Khalistani activities.

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Last Thursday, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval met his Canadian counterpart Nathalie Drouin in New Delhi. The talks focused on counter-terrorism cooperation and transnational crime. The meeting followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interaction with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the G7 summit in June, where both sides agreed to pursue constructive steps to stabilise ties. India-Canada relations had nosedived in 2023 after then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged a potential Indian link to Nijjar’s killing in British Columbia. The row led to a diplomatic standoff, with both countries expelling senior diplomats.

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The arrest of Gosal is expected to be closely monitored in both capitals as a test case of Canada’s seriousness in cracking down on extremist networks operating from its soil.