Exclusive: Month after bail in Canadian court, designated terrorist Arsh Dalla gets his ankle tracker removed by Canadian authorities

It comes at a time when the relationship between the two countries, frosty since September 2023 when former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau raised allegations about the Indian government’s “potential” involvement in the killing of Canada-based Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, took a turn for the worse after the country’s Foreign Interference Commission identified India as the “second most active country” interfering in its electoral affairs.

India has denied these allegations, terming them variously as “absurd” and “motivated”.

Significantly, this is the first time that one of India’s central investigation agencies has approached the Royal Canadian Mounted police to discuss Dalla’s arrest, and comes amid India’s push for Dalla’s extradition.

According to a source, Dalla had accidentally fired at his accomplice in a night club in Ontario on October 28 and he was taken into the police custody. He was later released on provincial bail, although an ankle tracker, used to electronically track his movements, was put on him.

“In December, the ankle bracelet tracker was removed after he deposited a fine of $30,000, and he was asked to inform the local police before leaving the city,” a source said.

The Intelligence agencies also found that Canada Police had a dashboard to monitor people who are out on bail for firearms-related offences. Ankle bracelets have a GPS tracking system to ensure offenders do not violate their bail or community release conditions, including by visiting the residences of victims.

A source said one of the central investigation agencies recently approached the Royal Canadian Mounted police to discuss Dalla’s case.

When contacted by The Indian Express and asked about this development, a spokesperson of RCMP said, “The RCMP does not publicly comment, confirm, or deny the specifics of our investigations, methodologies, operational interests, or activities. The RCMP works closely with our international partners and maintains strong relationships with law enforcement agencies around the world. The RCMP’s assistance in international matters are always conducted with due diligence and in accordance with established policies and procedures in Canada. At this time, we cannot comment further”.

After Dalla was released on bail, two men – one in Punjab and second in Madhya Pradesh were allegedly killed by his associates. On November 9, Punjab Police had arrested two shooters — Anmolpreet Singh alias Vishal, a resident of Bhadorh in Barnala and Navjot Singh alias Neetu, a resident of Nijjar Road in Kharar. “During questioning, both accused claimed that they were in contact with Arsh Dalla and Gurjant Singh alias Prince. They had committed two murders: Gurpreet Singh and Jaswant Singh Gill after arms as well as other logistics were provided by Arsh and Prince to them,” a source said.

According to the source, investigation revealed that one of the victims, Jaswant Singh Gill, was killed as an act of vengeance for the “murder of one Surender Singh, who is a younger brother of one Satpal Singh, a resident of Gwalior”.

“Satpal Singh is based in Canada and is in direct contact with Arsh. Inputs have been received that Arsh was approached by Satpal Singh to plan the murder of Jaswant,” a source said.

Designated as an individual terrorist by the Union Home Ministry in 2023, Dalla is allegedly involved in over 70 cases of murder, attempt to murder, extortion and terrorist acts — including terror financing. An Interpol Red Notice — a request to law enforcement around the world to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action – was issued against him in May 2022.

Last July, the Indian government shared his latest coordinates with the Canadian government, requesting them to make a provisional arrest of the fugitive. But no action was taken by them.

This comes at a time when ties between the two countries are at a low. In his statement in Parliament in September 2023, Trudeau claimed there were “credible allegations” that agents of the Indian government were involved in the killing of pro-Khalistan separatist figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023.

Nijjar, a designated individual terrorist in India, was Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief who was gunned down by unidentified assailants outside a gurdwara in Surrey in the Canadian province of British Columbia.

Ties between India and Canada have been severely hit after Trudeau’s statement, leading to serious downgrading of the relations between the two countries as they expelled each other’s diplomats.