Hit squad members tied to killing of separatist Nijjar held in Canada: Report

Police are expected to announce the arrests and share some details of their investigation later Friday.

Without disclosing details about the identity of the individuals arrested, the report said that sources close to the investigation also told CBC News that police are actively investigating possible links to three additional murders in Canada, including the shooting death of an 11-year-old boy in Edmonton.

“Members of the hit squad are alleged to have played different roles as shooters, drivers and spotters on the day Nijjar was killed at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, according to the sources.”

India and Canada are dealing with an unprecedented diplomatic crisis, which can have political as well as geopolitical consequences.

It started after Trudeau dropped a bombshell allegation in September last year, telling his country’s Parliament that it is possible the Indian government had a hand in the killing of Nijjar.

Karan Brar, 22 of Edmonton, Alberta, one of three individuals charged with first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in relation to the murder in Canada of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023, poses for an undated handout photograph released by the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT). (IHIT/Handout via Reuters)

He said he had taken up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit for the G20 Leaders’ Summit on September 9-10 last year. At their bilateral meeting in New Delhi, Modi had raised the concerns about pro-Khalistan elements in Canada.

The Ministry of External Affairs has called Trudeau’s accusation “absurd and motivated”. It said he had made similar allegations during his meeting with the PM, which had been “completely rejected”.

The diplomatic escalation happened quickly — and showed the seriousness of the crisis.

Canada took the first step, expelling an Indian diplomat posted in Ottawa. The official was identified as the head of the Indian intelligence agency, and his identity was revealed. India responded by expelling a Canadian diplomat based in New Delhi.

India then issued a travel advisory for Indian nationals travelling to Canada, as well as a caution for the Indian community in Canada. Students, professionals, and tourists were asked to be cautious because, the advisory said, the Indian community could be targeted.

This led to a sharp deterioration of ties between the two countries, with India telling Canada to withdraw about 40 diplomats from India — citing parity with the strength of Indian diplomats in Canada.

India also stopped issuing visas to Canadian nationals, but later resumed them in a phased manner.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the government had told Ottawa that “this is not the Government of India’s policy”.  He also said that if the Canadians share something “specific and relevant”, the Indian government was “open to looking at it”.

Friday’s arrests are expected to shine some light on the identity of the individuals, and their motivation, sources watching the developments in New Delhi said.

While there was no official word on the arrests, a source said, “Let’s not prejudge the outcome, let’s see what are the motivations and confessions by the arrested individuals.” The specifics of the case, and the arrested individuals, the source said, are key to unlocking the mystery behind the killing.