Ottawa: In a significant development in the investigation of the assassination of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Canadian government has named Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and several diplomats as “persons of interest.” Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and vocal advocate for the Khalistan movement, was murdered on June 18, 2023, in Surrey, British Columbia.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Nijjar was fatally shot outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara and was found deceased in his vehicle along Scott Road. This incident subsequently led to the arrest of four individuals of Punjabi-Indian descent, who have been charged with his murder. The case has strained diplomatic relations, with Canada and India experiencing heightened tensions since September 2023.
This escalation follows Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s assertion that there was credible evidence of Indian governmental involvement in the assassination, a claim that India has vehemently denied. In response to the ongoing investigation, India has begun withdrawing its ambassador and other diplomats from Canada, marking a significant diplomatic rift between the two nations.