In the province of British Columbia, Canada, there are indications that Canadian law enforcement is on the verge of apprehending two individuals suspected of orchestrating the fatal shooting of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, identified as a Khalistani terrorist. This incident, which occurred in June at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, led to the tragic demise of Nijjar, who was included in a list of 40 designated terrorists released by the Indian government.
According to a report by The Globe and Mail, the suspects in question are currently under the surveillance of Canadian authorities, and their arrest is anticipated to transpire "in a matter of weeks," as reported by the news agency PTI. The newspaper's information is attributed to three anonymous sources, revealing that the alleged perpetrators have remained within Canada since the assassination of Nijjar and have been subjects of police monitoring for several months.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) had reported the shooting incident at the Gurdwara on June 18, where Nijjar, aged 45, was discovered with fatal gunshot wounds inside a car in the gurdwara's parking lot. Subsequent developments strained the relations between India and Canada, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggesting a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar's killing in September. In response, India refuted these allegations as "absurd and motivated," asserting its unwavering commitment to the rule of law.
Adding complexity to the situation, a US indictment in November outlined a thwarted plot to assassinate a Canadian-American Sikh activist. In response, India has established a committee to probe the allegations made by US prosecutors.
As formal charges are anticipated to be filed, the police are expected to disclose intricate details regarding the alleged role of the assassins and their potential connections to the Indian government. Moninder Singh, spokesperson of BC Gurdwaras Council, noted a prevailing sense within the community that the impending arrests may bring a semblance of closure to the situation. This development represents an ongoing and intricate international incident, highlighting the intersection of law enforcement, geopolitical tensions, and the quest for justice in the aftermath of a high-profile targeted killing.
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