Who Was Hardeep Singh Nijjar? Sikh Separatist Leader Whose Killing Soured India-Canada Relations

Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, whose death has sparked tensions between India and Canada, was a known terrorist in India. He led the Khalistan Tiger Force and was wanted for multiple cases. Nijjar, aged 45, had close ties with Gurdeep Singh, also known as Deepa Heranwala, who was linked to the deaths of around 200 people in Punjab during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Nijjar faced an attack by unknown individuals on June 18, 2023, near the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, Vancouver. According to the Khalistan Extremism Monitor, he hailed from Harsighpur in Punjab's Jalandhar district. Before becoming the head of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurudwara in Surrey, Canada, he worked as a plumber.

India-Canada Diplomatic Tensions

The diplomatic rift between India and Canada escalated after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested Indian agents might be involved in Nijjar's killing. India dismissed these claims as "absurd" and "motivated," responding by expelling a senior Canadian diplomat after Ottawa expelled an Indian official over the incident.

In response to Canada's actions, India withdrew its High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and other officials from Canada. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed concerns about their safety due to actions by Trudeau's government. This decision followed India's summoning of Canada's Charge d'affaires regarding a diplomatic note naming Indian diplomats as "persons of interest" in Nijjar's killing investigation.

Nijjar's Criminal Activities

In 2010, Punjab Police charged Nijjar for his role in an explosion near Patiala's Satya Narayan temple. Five years later, another case accused him of plotting to kill religious leaders. By 2016, he faced allegations of running a training camp in Canada. In 2012, Nijjar visited Pakistan and connected with Jagtar Singh Tara from Babbar Khalsa International.

Tara provided arms and trained Nijjar in assembling IEDs between 2012 and 2013. He also sent Harjot Singh Birring from the US to Canada to train Nijjar on using handheld GPS devices. The National Investigation Agency filed several cases against him and issued an Interpol Red Corner Notice for raising a module involving Khalistani separatist Mandeep Singh Dhaliwal.

India's Stance on Canadian Allegations

The MEA stated that targeting Indian diplomats was unacceptable amid extremism and violence concerns. They expressed distrust in Canada's commitment to ensuring their security. India reserved the right to take further steps against Canada's support for extremism and separatism against India.

The situation remains tense as both nations navigate this diplomatic conflict. The unfolding events highlight ongoing challenges related to extremism and international relations between India and Canada.