India on Monday rejected a Canadian media report linking two Indian officers to the 2023 killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and referred to as for such delicate issues to be dealt with by means of “authorized processes with out public commentary”.
The Globe and Mail, citing two unidentified sources, one in nationwide safety and the opposite in legislation enforcement, reported on Sunday that two officers who had been earlier posted in India’s consulate common in Vancouver had been allegedly concerned within the killing of Nijjar in June 2023.
P Kumaran, secretary (East) within the exterior affairs ministry, informed a media briefing that India “categorically rejects allegations of involvement in trans-national violence or organised crime”.
Such claims are “baseless, politically motivated and unsupported by credible proof regardless of repeated requests”, Kumaran stated. “India believes that issues of this nature have to be addressed by means of credible legislation enforcement and judicial processes and never by means of public or politicised narratives,” he added.
The felony investigation within the case of Nijjar is continuing based on established authorized procedures, and proceedings have entered the pre-trial section, following which it should transfer to the total jury trial stage, Kumaran stated.
“Canadians have a longtime authorized process and it’ll proceed as per that process. India constantly maintained its dedication to the judicial course of,” he stated.
“We consider that delicate issues below judicial concerns are finest allowed to proceed by means of established authorized processes with out public commentary,” he added.
The Globe and Mail report named former visa officer Kanwaljit Singh, who gathered details about Nijjar from the diaspora by utilizing his function to facilitate the method. The report stated he was monitored by the Canadian Safety Intelligence Service (CSIS) as an secret agent of the Analysis and Evaluation Wing (RAW).
The opposite official named within the report was Manish, who was the consul common in Vancouver and is now the envoy to Cyprus.
Singh was amongst six Indian officers and diplomats expelled by the Canadian authorities in October 2024 for alleged involvement in violence.
The knowledge gathered by the 2 officers was allegedly transmitted to former RAW operative Vikash Yadav,, and he communicated it to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang which allegedly organised the killing, the report stated.
Yadav, a former CRPF officer deputed to the exterior intelligence company, was faraway from his publish after the US division of justice named him within the case in opposition to Indian nationwide Nikhil Gupta, who lately pled responsible to prices associated to a plot to kill Sikhs for Justice chief Gurpatwant Pannun in New York.
Each Nijjar and Pannun have been designated as terrorists by India. Pannun is the organiser of the so-called Khalistan Referendum and Nijjar was, on the time of his dying, its Canadian coordinator.
India and Canada have an ongoing safety and legislation and order dialogue, and Nationwide Safety Advisor Ajit Doval visited Ottawa final month for talks. India’s excessive commissioner Dinesh Patnaik informed Hindustan Instances final month: “We have now nothing to fret about on this account. We need to work with the Canadians to deliver the perpetrators to justice.”
Noting that the felony case involving 4 Indian nationals accused in Nijjar’s homicide is in progress and no proof of an Indian hyperlink has been offered until date, Patnaik stated, “If there’s any proof that the People need to present to the Canadians, high-quality. If the Canadians have proof, high-quality. Like I’ve all the time maintained, if we discover there are components inside the Indian institution who’ve completed one thing incorrect, we’ll ourselves take motion.”
Relations between India and Canada cratered after former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau alleged in September 2023 that there have been “credible allegations” of a possible hyperlink between Indian brokers and Nijjar’s killing. India dismissed the accusations as “absurd” and “motivated”.
An announcement issued by the Canadian Prime Minister’s Workplace following PM Mark Carney’s assembly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated the leaders agreed to “advance bilateral cooperation on safety and legislation enforcement”, together with problems with mutual concern such because the unlawful move of medication and trans-national organised felony networks.
Carney additionally “underscored that Canada will proceed to take measures to fight transnational repression”, the assertion stated.
Kumaran additionally stated each PMs had reaffirmed their dedication to “rebuild strategic belief, strengthen institutional cooperation and anchor the connection in mutual respect, sovereignty and democratic values”.
Senior officers of India and Canada are discussing safety and legislation enforcement cooperation, and a gathering held in February had resulted within the framing of a piece plan for cooperation on nationwide safety and legislation enforcement points, Kumaran stated.
