Hardeep Nijjar killing: 3 accused of Indian origin appear before Canadian court

Khalistani Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. (AFP)

In a Surrey courtroom in British Columbia, members of the Sikh community gathered as three Indian nationals accused of killing Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar made their first court appearance by video. The accused, Karan Brar, Karanpreet Singh, and Kamalpreet Singh, arrived in court wearing orange jumpsuits, as pro-Khalistani protestors outside screamed slogans and brandished signs blaming the Indian government for Nijjar's death.

Judge Delaram Jahani briefly questioned the suspects in court. Two of them, Brar and Karanpreet Singh, have agreed to appear again on May 21 with legal representation, while Kamalpreet Singh, who is seeking legal counsel, has yet to set a new date, reported ANI.

According to the report, the trio was arrested in Edmonton last week and charged with first-degree murder and a deadly conspiracy in connection with Nijjar's June 2023 killing, which strained Canada-India relations. Canada's Prime Minister accused Indian government agents of killing Nijjar, sparking a diplomatic crisis between the two countries. However, India has denounced the allegations as false.

Nijjar was tragically shot outside a gurdwara in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver, in June last year, and a video of the incident surfaced in March this year, implying a contract killing, the report added.

Canadian police released photos of the three suspects and the vehicle thought to have been used in the crime. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) nabbed the men with support from law enforcement agencies in British Columbia and Alberta, the news agency report stated.

The leader of Canada's New Democratic Party, Jagmeet Singh, reiterated allegations of Indian involvement in Nijjar's killing after the arrests were made, but no evidence linking India to the crime has been shared by Canadian authorities. India has consistently denied any involvement in Hardeep Nijjar killing.

"The Indian government hired assassins to murder a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil - at a place of worship. Today 3 arrests were made. Let me be clear - any Indian agent or state actor that ordered, planned or carried out this murder must be exposed and met with the full force of Canadian law. For Canada, democracy and free speech - there must be Justice for Hardeep Singh Nijjar," Jagmeet posted from his X handle.

In 2023, the Canadian Prime Minister accused India of involvement in the death, which India categorically denied, calling it 'absurd and driven'. The Canadian police have also not provided any proof linking India to the killing.

With ANI inputs