Khalistani Leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar Killed In Canada: Know All About KTF Chief

Canada-based Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead outside a gurdwara in the north American country.

What We Know About the Incident, So Far?

A resident of Bharsinghpur village in Punjab's Jalandhar, Nijjar was found dead inside a car with bullet wounds in the parking lot of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Sahib in Surrey around 8:27 pm (local time) on Sunday.

Nijjar was shot by two unidentified assailants and he died on the spot.

When his body was being moved from the scene by the Canadian police, a group of Sikhs raised pro-Khalistan and anti-India slogans, according to the officials.

Who Was Hardeep Singh Nijjar?

Nijjar was one of the most-wanted terrorists in India for his alleged involvement in terror activities in the country.

According to the NIA, Nijjar was also promoting the secessionist and violent agenda of the pro-Khalistan group 'Sikhs for Justice' in India. He was accused of trying to radicalise the Sikh community across the world.

With the aim of creating a separate state of Khalistan, he was trying to get the Sikhs to go against India and carry out violent acts. Nijjar who had designated him as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

He had played a key role in organising the Khalistan referendum in Brampton city. India had asked Canadian authorities to take action against Nijjar for his alleged involvement in terrorist acts in Punjab.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar led an aggressive campaign aimed at undermining India, employing various tactics such as orchestrating protests outside Indian missions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada. Additionally, he was implicated in orchestrating targeted assassinations in Punjab.

He had connections with designated terrorists - Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and Paramjit Singh Pamma.

According to NIA chargesheet filed in December 2020, he and UK-based Paramjit Singh Pamma opened 'Sikhs for Justice' offices in USA, Canada, the UK, Australia and other countries under the garb of 'Human Rights advocacy group' while working as a frontal organisation of Khalistan terrorist outfits.

He was seen in protests in front of the Consulate General of India, Vancouver in the last few years. He also had links with Avtar Singh Khanda, a Khalistani leader of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), who died in a hospital in the UK, last week.

In July last year, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on information leading to Nijjar's arrest in connection with an attack on a Hindu priest in Jalandhar in 2021.

The reward announcement came nearly three weeks after the NIA filed a charge sheet against him and three others in connection with the attack.