Washington, A report has emerged alleging that the Indian government sent a ‘secret memo’ to its embassies in North America, directing them to clamp down on Khalistani activists, including the recently assassinated Sikh leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

According to Kashmir Media Service, The Intercept, a U.S. news organization, published a report claiming possession of a document that suggests India is engaging in a “sophisticated crackdown scheme” against Sikh activists in Western countries. The report, released yesterday, detailed contents of the alleged memo, issued in April 2023 by India’s Ministry of External Affairs. It reportedly instructed Indian consulates in North America to work with Indian intelligence agencies in targeting Sikh diaspora organizations.

The Intercept’s report states, “The memo, titled ‘Action Points on Khalistan Extremism,’ lists several Sikh dissidents under investigation by India’s intelligence agencies, including Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar.” Nijjar was assassinated in Vancouver in June, two months after being named in the memo, an act the Canadian government attributed to orders from Indian intelligence.

The document reportedly advised on concrete measures to hold the suspects accountable, naming Sikh diaspora organizations such as Sikhs for Justice, Babbar Khalsa International, Sikh Youth of America, Sikh Coordination Committee East Coast, World Sikh Parliament, and Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar America. While Babbar Khalsa International is recognized as a terrorist organization in the U.S. and Canada, the other groups are considered legal.

The Intercept mentioned that the leaked memo calls for cooperation between Indian consular officials in the U.S. and Canada and India’s intelligence agencies. The Indian government, however, responded to the publication by denying the existence of such a memo.

The report also shed light on U.S. and Canadian allegations against India for orchestrating assassinations of Sikhs in the West. It cited the interception of communications between Indian officials and their U.S. contacts as evidence used by U.S. and Canadian officials in making these accusations.

Furthermore, the report touched on an alleged ongoing assassination campaign against Sikh dissidents outside the West, with Pakistan among the countries mentioned.

The classified memo, reportedly signed by India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, was authenticated by a forensic handwriting expert, The Intercept.

The release of this report and the alleged secret memo could significantly impact India’s diplomatic relations with the U.S. and Canada, as well as its standing in the international community.