Canadian authorities arrest fourth suspect for alleged role in killing Khalistan separatist Hardeep Nijjar

Canadian authorities arrested a fourth Indian national in connection with the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in this country, a week after police arrested three Indians linked with the high-profile case.

22-year-old Amardeep Singh, a resident of Brampton, Surrey, and Abbotsford areas of Canada, has been charged with first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. 

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said that Amardeep Singh was arrested on May 11 for his role in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He was already in the custody of the Peel Regional Police for unrelated firearms charges out, said an official release. 

"This arrest shows the nature of our ongoing investigation to hold responsible those that played a role in the homicide of Hardeep Singh Nijjar," said Superintendent Mandeep Mooker, the Officer in Charge of IHIT. 

IHIT investigators on May 3 arrested three Indian nationals -- Karan Brar (22), Kamalpreet Singh (22) and 28-year-old Karanpreet Singh -- for the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. 

Nijjar, 45, was killed outside Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18, 2023. He was labelled as a terrorist by India's National Investigation Agency in 2020. Nijjar was shot as he exited a Gurdwara in Surrey. Canadian police released photographs of the three accused and a car believed to have been used in the murder as part of their ongoing investigation.

Nijjar's killing triggered a massive political row between India and Canada last year after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged the role of "Indian agents" in the murder. India had rejected the charge as "absurd" and "motivated". 

After Trudeau's charges, both countries expelled diplomats of the other country. India also temporarily suspended the issuance of visas to Canadian citizens. The visa services were resumed several weeks later.

Earlier this week, Canada’s House of Commons passed a private member’s motion which includes allusion to an Indian link to the killing of Nijjar.

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that by allowing political space to Khalistani separatist elements, the Canadian government is sending a message that its vote bank is "more powerful" than its rule of law.