In June 2023, Hardip Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist, was gunned down in Canada, a shocking event that has now led to a series of arrests by Canadian law enforcement. This raises perplexing questions: Was the reputed Lawrence Bishnoi gang involved in Nijjar's assassination?
A Canadian newspaper, citing local police, has alleged that a suspected hit squad, including three Indian men, was nabbed on Friday, believed to have ties to the Bishnoi gang.
Source: aajtak
Indian Government Implicated Once Again
The government of India has been accused again of orchestrating Nijjar's murder. Canadian police have apprehended Kamalpreet Singh, Karanpreet Singh and Karn Brar on charges of murder and conspiracy. Allegedly, the suspects made their way to Canada on temporary visas back in 2021, with a few on student visas, yet none pursued education while in the country.
Alleged Connections to the Lawrence Bishnoi Syndicate
Arrested suspects are linked to a criminal syndicate in Haryana and Punjab, reportedly associated with notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. Canada's police have also attributed the murder of Khalistani terrorist Sukhdool aka Sukkha Duneke to the Bishnoi gang. Following Sukkha's assassination, it was unveiled that Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar were behind his murder in Canada.
Source: aajtak
Trudeau Accuses India
On several occasions, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has pointed fingers at India concerning the murder of Hardip Singh Nijjar. He recently stated that both Canada and India, from the standpoint of area and population, are two of the world's leading democracies facing real challenges. During a speech, he vindicated the suspicions of Indian government agents being involved in the murder of Nijjar on Canadian soil, a serious violation of the rules-based global order, open democratic ideals, and principles of sovereignty that we stand by.
India responded to Trudeau's latest remarks by highlighting Canadian tolerance of separatism, extremism, and violence, thus allowing them political space.
Trudeau's Parliamentary Accusations
Last year, Trudeau, addressing the parliament, accused India of Nijjar's murder which led to diplomatic tensions between Canada and India. Subsequently, the relationship has seen its ups and downs. India has accused Trudeau and his party of wooing the Khalistani vote bank through politics.
Nijjar Assassinated in June 2023
Last June saw the assassination of Nijjar outside a Gurdwara in Surrey, Canada. A chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force, Nijjar had been operating from Canada for many years, furthering Khalistani terrorism against India from there. During his 2018 visit to India, Trudeau was handed a list of Khalistani terrorists by the then Chief Minister of Punjab Amarinder Singh, which included Nijjar. The Indian Home Ministry declared Nijjar a terrorist in 2020.
An FIR against him was registered for a bomb explosion outside a temple in Patiala in 2010, with police on the lookout for his involvement in inciting violence and promoting terrorist activities. India designated Hardip Singh Nijjar as a terrorist, and the NIA had announced a reward of 10 lakhs for information leading to his capture.
