Canada Declines India’s Request For Khalistani Terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s Death Certificate

Canada has declined to provide the death certificate of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed in a shooting in June last year.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had requested the document to complete legal requirements in ongoing cases against Nijjar within India. However, Canadian authorities refused to give it asking counter-questions and the need for the death certificate of a Canadian citizen to India, The Times of India reported citing sources.

Nijjar's killing has been a flashpoint in strained Indo-Canadian relations, with the Canadian government alleging potential involvement by Indian agencies-a claim New Delhi strongly denies. This diplomatic rift intensified when Canada recently named senior Indian diplomats as "persons of interest" in the Nijjar case, prompting India to withdraw those diplomats from Canada.

In a parallel development, NIA has faced challenges in obtaining an Interpol red-corner notice for Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a pro-Khalistan leader and designated terrorist who holds US citizenship. NIA is investigating six cases against Pannun and has so far seized three of his properties in India, citing them as proceeds of terrorism.

Pannun's life was reportedly targeted in New York in June 2023, with US authorities alleging involvement by an Indian official. Recently, an indictment in the U.S. charged Vikash Yadav, a former officer with India's Research and Analysis Wing, with orchestrating the plot against Pannun.

Relations between India and Canada deteriorated after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged in Parliament last year that there were "credible allegations" of Indian involvement in Nijjar's death. India dismissed the allegations as "absurd" and "motivated," criticizing Canada for allowing extremist elements to operate within its borders. Trudeau later clarified that Canada had shared intelligence, but not concrete evidence, with India regarding Nijjar's killing.

NIA continues to investigate pro-Khalistan activities, including cases against Pannun, who holds both US and Canadian citizenship. His properties in Chandigarh, as well as land in Amritsar linked to him, have been seized as part of ongoing anti-terrorism measures.