Hardeep Singh Nijjar killing: Canadian police release pictures of accused, other evidence

Canadian police have arrested three Indian nationals in connection with the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated terrorist by India, last year. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) named the arrested individuals as Karanpreet Singh (28), Kamalpreet Singh (22), and Karan Brar (22), all residents of Edmonton city in Alberta.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) arrested the trio for the June 2023 killing of Nijjar in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver. They have been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

In a news conference, RCMP Assistant Commissioner David Teboul highlighted the active nature of the investigation.

Addressing reporters at a news conference on Friday, RCMP Assistant Commissioner David Teboul, who leads the Federal Policing Program in the Pacific Region, emphasised the active nature of the investigation into Nijjar’s murder.

“Three suspects have been arrested and charged for their alleged involvement in the killing of Nijjar…. We are not able to make any comments on the nature of evidence… Nor can we speak behind the motive of murder of Nijjar… However, I will say this matter is very much under active investigation,” he said.

“There are separate and distinct investigations ongoing into these matters, certainly not limited to the involvement of the people arrested today, and these efforts include investigating connections to the government of India,” Teboul also said.Public Safety Minister Dominic Leblanc refrained from confirming any connection to the Indian government, asserting that such inquiries should be directed to the RCMP, CTV News report.”I have full confidence in the security apparatus of the government of Canada and the work of the RCMP, and the work that the (Canadian) Security Intelligence Service does,” Leblanc said.

“The police operation that you see ongoing today confirms that the RCMP take these matters extremely seriously. But questions with respect to particular links or non-links are properly put to the RCMP,” he added, according to CTV News report.

There are ongoing investigations into the alleged connections of the suspects to the government of India. Public Safety Minister Dominic Leblanc refrained from confirming any connection, directing inquiries to the RCMP. He stated, “I have full confidence in the security apparatus of the government of Canada and the work of the RCMP, and the work that the (Canadian) Security Intelligence Service does.”

India has repeatedly denied any involvement in Nijjar’s killing, terming the allegations “absurd and motivated.” The video of Nijjar’s killing, which surfaced in March this year, showed him being shot by armed men in what has been described as a “contract killing.”

The Surrey RCMP, along with partner agencies and support services across Canada, has been closely involved in the investigation. The Canadian police have not provided any evidence linking the killing to India, despite speculations in the Canadian media.

The killing of Nijjar had triggered diplomatic tensions between Canada and India after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of being involved, a claim that India has vehemently denied. The investigation into Nijjar’s killing remains ongoing, with the RCMP continuing its efforts to uncover the truth behind the murder.