Canada on Nijjar case: Indian mission notified on arrests, up to the 4 to speak

An investigating official said it is procedure for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to notify the embassy if their citizens/nationals are arrested. Responding to a questionnaire from The Indian Express, David Lee of IHIT’s media relations team, said, “IHIT has notified the embassy of the arrest but it is up to the four individuals to determine/choose to speak to the consulate.”

The IHIT declined to comment on how the four men entered Canada. “We can confirm that they are Indian nationals and were in Canada anywhere from three to five years,” Lee said.

On May 3, the IHIT arrested 22-year-old Karan Brar, 22-year-old Kamalpreet Singh, and 28-year-old Karanpreet Singh, all living in Edmonton. According to an IHIT statement, they have been charged with first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Ten days later, a fourth Indian national, 22-year-old Amandeep Singh, was also arrested for his alleged role in the killing of Nijjar. Singh was already in custody for unrelated firearms charges out of Peel Regional Police. He was also charged with similar offences.

On Tuesday, three of the four appeared in person for the first time in a Canadian court with the judge ordering them to have no contact with several people in the community.

While Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh and Karanpreet Singh appeared in person at the British Columbia Provincial Court in Surrey, Amandeep Singh appeared via video link. The IHIT said “they have been provided with legal counsel and have access to lawyers who are trained and educated to deal with matters such as homicide”.

“Upon their arrest, the IHIT investigative team takes their rights to counsel very seriously… ensured they had contact with the correct kind of counsel,” Lee said. While the charges have been laid, the trial date has not been set yet, the IHIT said.

On being asked if it was imperative for the case file/chargesheet to be shared with the Indian authorities since they were all Indian citizens, the IHIT said, “We do not have to share any information with the Indian authorities. If they request it, it must be from our Department of Justice to their equivalent branch.”

Nijjar, 45, was killed outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18, 2023. The Khalistan separatist was wanted in India on various terror charges.