Focus on India’s Alleged Role in Sikh Separatist Killings One Year After Nijjar’s Death

One year after Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader, was killed near Vancouver, there is increasing focus on India’s alleged role in suppressing Sikh independence movements through targeted killings in Canada and the United States. This scrutiny has intensified due to legal and diplomatic actions suggesting a pattern of politically motivated assassinations.

In Canada, an upcoming hearing on June 25 will allow prosecutors to present new evidence linking India to Nijjar’s murder. Nijjar, a prominent figure in the Sikh separatist movement, has become a central figure in the strained relations between Canada and India. The case is expected to further strain bilateral ties, involving issues related to national sovereignty and international law.

Simultaneously, Nikhil Gupta, suspected of plotting to kill Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, was extradited from the Czech Republic to the US earlier this month.

This development underscores the international dimension of the issue, highlighting concerns about India’s extraterritorial actions. Gupta’s extradition is a significant step in addressing these allegations, which have implications for US-India relations.

In Canada, four Indian nationals were arrested in May for their involvement in Nijjar’s fatal shooting. These men, Amandeep Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, Karan Brar, and Karanpreet Singh, are set to appear in court in Surrey on June 25. Their arrest has brought renewed attention to the Nijjar case, prompting various reactions from the Sikh community and Canadian authorities.

Sikh activists marked the first anniversary of Nijjar’s death with a symbolic trial of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi outside the Indian consulate in Vancouver.

This act of protest, which included an effigy of Modi in prison stripes, highlighted the activists’ accusations against the Indian government. The Canadian Parliament also honored Nijjar with a moment of silence, a gesture that elicited a strong response from India.

The ongoing referendums by Sikhs in Canada on the creation of a separate Sikh nation, Khalistan, further complicate the situation.

These referendums, like the one scheduled on July 28 in Calgary, underscore the persistent demand for a separate Sikh state and the broader diaspora’s role in this movement. Such activities continue to be a source of tension between the Canadian and Indian governments.

The Nijjar case has significantly strained India-Canada relations, particularly after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement in September 2023 about investigating India’s possible involvement in the assassination.

India has denied any involvement, yet the diplomatic fallout has been considerable, affecting trade talks and leading to the temporary withdrawal of diplomats. Recent interactions between Modi and Trudeau at the G7 conference did little to alleviate these tensions.

In the United States, Gupta’s extradition and the subsequent charges against him for an alleged murder-for-hire plot to kill Pannun add another layer to the international scrutiny of India’s actions.

The case details, including Gupta’s association with an Indian government agency employee and the undercover operation that thwarted the plot, paint a complex picture of covert operations and legal confrontations.

Meanwhile, in Australia, reports by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation accuse Indian agents of harassing Sikh diaspora members.

These allegations, linked to the broader context of Nijjar’s assassination and the plot against Pannun, suggest a wider pattern of intimidation and suppression of Sikh separatists. The response from the Australian government remains muted despite these serious allegations and the broader implications for international relations.