ARRESTS IN CANADA CONFIRM GANG WAR BEHIND NIJJAR KILLING

The arrest of three India nationals by the Canadian police for their alleged role in the killing of Khalistani operative Hardeep Singh Nijjar is likely to confirm the assessment of Indian authorities that Nijjar’s killing was the fallout of a gang war and a fight for the control of the resource-rich gurdwaras of Canada.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

The Canadian government under Justin Trudeau, for the last one year, under pressure from Sikh radical groups and Khalistani pressure groups, has been claiming that Nijjar was killed by Indian intelligence operatives.

Apart from leading the Khalistan Tiger Force, which has been banned by Government of India and being a prominent member of another banned terrorist group, Sikhs For Justice, Nijjar was also the president of the Guru Nanak Sikh gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. After his death, videos and pictures showing him carrying automatic assault rifles and taking part in training exercises had emerged. 

Sikh gurdwaras receive huge do nations from various quarters, some of which is then given by the office bearers to local politicians to be on their good side. These office bearers too are given preferential treatment by local politicians because of the influence they hold over the Sikh voters.

These office bearers, apart from handling the affairs of the gurdwaras, carry out their own businesses which includes mediating over disputes between two parties.

On Friday night, the Canadian police announced the arrest of the 22-year-old Karan Brar, Kamal Preet Singh and 28-year-old Karan Preet Singh from Edmonton, Alberta.