Ottawa: Canada has expelled six Indian diplomats following police investigations that revealed their involvement in activities threatening public safety. This significant diplomatic development underscores a growing tension between Canada and India over alleged espionage activities.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) announced on Monday that they had uncovered substantial evidence of criminal activities orchestrated by Indian government agents in Canada. The RCMP detailed that these Indian diplomats and consular officials used their official roles to conduct espionage activities within the Canadian borders.

Further investigations highlighted that the Indian government had been actively collecting information through its officials stationed in Canada, using such data to target members of the South Asian community. In response to these allegations and to preempt further diplomatic embarrassment, India preemptively withdrew its high commissioner and other diplomats from Canada.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in a statement to the press, articulated that the RCMP had found “clear and compelling evidence” of the Indian diplomats’ involvement in activities that compromised Canadian public safety. Trudeau detailed the offenses involved, which included illicit information-gathering, coercive behavior targeting South Asian Canadians, and connections to various threatening actions, including violent crimes.

“This includes clandestine information-gathering techniques, coercive behaviour targeting South Asian Canadians, and involvement in over a dozen threatening and violent acts, including murder,” Trudeau stated, emphasizing the necessity of the expulsions to disrupt ongoing criminal activities posing threats to Canada’s public safety.