“Given Arsh Dalla’s criminal record in India and his involvement in similar illegal activities in Canada, it is expected that he will be extradited or deported to face justice in India,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

In view of the recent arrest of designated pro-Khalistan “terrorist” Arshdeep Singh Gill, alias Arsh Dalla, by the Canadian police in Ontario, Indian agencies would be following up on an extradition request, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday (November 14, 2024).

“Given Arsh Dalla’s criminal record in India and his involvement in similar illegal activities in Canada, it is expected that he will be extradited or deported to face justice in India,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

Responding to a query on the issue through a statement, Mr. Jaiswal said: “We have seen media reports circulating since November 10 on the arrest in Canada of proclaimed offender Arsh Singh Gill alias Arsh Dalla, the de-facto chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). Canadian print and visual media have widely reported on the arrest. We understand that the Ontario Court has listed the case for hearing.”

He said Arsh Dalla is a proclaimed offender in over 50 cases of murder, attempt to murder, extortion, and terrorist acts including terror financing. In May 2022, a Red Notice was issued against him. He was designated by the Union Home Ministry as an “individual terrorist” in January 2023. In July 2023, the Indian government had requested the Canadian counterpart for his provisional arrest, but it was declined. Additional information was provided in that case.

“A separate request was also sent to Canada under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) to verify Arsh Dalla’s suspected residential address, his financial transactions to India, moveable/immovable properties, details of mobile numbers, etc. — all of which were provided to Canadian authorities in January 2023. In December 2023, the Department of Justice of Canada sought additional information on the case. A reply to these queries was sent in March this year,” said Mr. Jaiswal.

Arsh Dalla was a close aide of the then KTF chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was gunned down by unidentified assailants in the parking lot of a gurudwara in Canada’s Surrey on June 18, 2023. Subsequently, he took over as the outfit’s operations.

The accused also has links with banned terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and has been involved in smuggling of arms, ammunition, explosives, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from across Pakistan for other proscribed outfits like Babbar Khalsa International, Khalistan Liberation Force, and International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is probing him in multiple cases and also arrested several of his aides in the recent past.

New Delhi:

Two senior aides of Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, one of whom is his national security advisor, Nathalie Drouin, shared confidential information about India – and claimed Delhi ‘interference’ in Ottawa’s affairs – to a United States newspaper, a Canadian publication reported Tuesday.

The information was provided days before Canadian federal police alleged – as Mr Trudeau has in the past, but without concrete evidence – that “agents” of the Indian government work with criminal gangs to “target South Asians… specifically pro-Khalistani elements” in that country.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Mike Duhene and his deputy, Brigitte Gauvin, told reporters they believed Indian government “agents” had ties with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, and were involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, in June last year, as well as case of “extortion, intimidation, and coercion”.

India had strongly rejected what it called “preposterous imputations” and underlined that since allegations were first made – by Mr Trudeau in September last year – the Canadian government “has not shared a shred of evidence with the Government of India, despite many requests…”

READ | “As We Said, No Evidence…”: India On Justin Trudeau’s Deposition

That sentiment was underlined last week after Mr Trudeau told a Commission of Inquiry he had only intel-based speculation and no “proof” when he linked “agents” of Delhi to Nijjar’s killing.

Canada Officials, US Paper Met?

Canada newspaper The Globe and Mail said its sources had spoken of Ms Drouin and David Morrison, the Deputy Minister of Global Affairs, briefing the Washington Post on various aspects of India’s ‘interference’, including involvement in the September 2023 killing of another Sikh leader, Sukhdool Gill, a gangster from Punjab’s Moga linked to the Khalistani terror movement.

Gill was killed two days after Mr Trudeau first accused India in the Nijjar killing.

Spokespersons for Ms Drouin and Mr Morrison have claimed no information was shared, but spoke of an unsealed United States indictment from November 2023. According to The Globe and Mail, this, however, did not name Gill or the other Canadian targeted for assassination.

The Post, sources told the Canadian publication, was instructed not to report anything till Mr Duheme and Ms Gauvin held that press conference. The Post eventually did so citing ‘Canadian officials’ who claimed to have linked Gill’s murder to India, although the federal police did not.

In their presser Mr Duheme and Ms Gauvin claimed to have evidence – none was presented citing ongoing investigation – that some Indian diplomatic staff work with organised crime elements to “collect – through questionable and illegal means – information on Canadian citizens… (that is fed to criminal organisations) that would then take violent actions…”

#WATCH | Ottawa, Ontario (Canada): “It (India) is targeting South Asian community but they are specifically targeting pro-Khalistani elements in Canada…What we have seen is, from an RCMP perspective, they use organised crime elements. It has been publically attributed and… pic.twitter.com/KYKQVSx7Ju

— ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2024

Hours after the police officers’ press conference Mr Trudeau spoke to reporters and doubled down on charges against the Indian government.

READ | Trudeau Doubles Down On Charges Amid India-Canada Diplomatic Row

“I think it is obvious the Government of India made a fundamental error in thinking they could engage in supporting criminal activity against Canadians, here on Canadian soil…” he declared.

India, Canada Expel Diplomats

His government also named High Commissioner Sanjay Verma as one of the six ‘persons of interest’ in this affair, triggering further fury from Delhi, which retaliated by ejecting Canada’s High Commissioner and five of his staff. On the expulsions (the second tit-for-tat round), Delhi said, “Sanjay Verma is India’s senior-most serving diplomat”, and slammed a “strategy of smearing India for political gains”.

Canadian authorities investigating Nijjar’s killing have arrested four people so far, and Mr Duheme said last week that 30 others, including those with alleged links to the Indian government. were charged.

Trudeau’s Political Future

Mr Trudeau’s allegations coincide with sliding support and tanking popularity; this month he survived a second parliamentary confidence vote in as many weeks before the 2025 election.

Ties between Ottawa and Delhi have plummeted since Mr Trudeau’s allegations broke, with his critics in India accusing him of pandering to Khalistani terrorist vote banks in that country.

In May, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said that Justin Trudeau, by allowing political space to Khalistani separatist elements, had indicated the terrorists’ votes were more important than the rule of law.

Mr Jaishankar underlined his assessment this week at the NDTV World Summit and criticised the Canadian government for “double standards”, referring to apparent differences between how Ottawa treats other nations’ diplomats on its soil and the “license’ it allows its representatives in India.

US’ Position

The US has been discreet since the row erupted in September last year and has only emphasised the need for cooperation between the two countries, an appeal it made again last week.

READ | NDTV Explains: US Charge Over Plot To Kill Terrorist, India’s Reaction

The United States – which is conducting an inquiry about an ex-Indian spy linked to a murder-for-hire attempt targeting Gurpatwant Pannun, whom India considers a Khalistani terrorist – called for Delhi and Ottawa to work together, and said that charges need to be viewed “very seriously”.

READ | On Nijjar Killing, US Says “Wanted To See India, Canada Cooperate But…”

Nijjar – the mastermind behind banned terror outfit Khalistan Tiger Force – was on Delhi’s list of ‘most wanted’ terrorists for multiple crimes, including the murder of Hindu priest in Punjab. Anti-terror agency NIA had offered a Rs 10 lakh reward for information leading to his capture.

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File image of Vikash Yadav, released by the United States Department of Justice.

U.S. prosecutors accused a former Indian government employee of directing a foiled plot to kill pro-Khalistan separatist figure Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in a case that has disrupted the India-US relations and mirrors a 2023 killing in Canada.

The accused Vikash Yadav was identified thus far as CC-1, in the original indictment filed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) in 2023. This comes almost 11 months after the first U.S. indictment uncovering the alleged plot.

Another Indian, Nikhil Gupta, was charged last year and is currently being detained in Brooklyn, following his arrest in the Czech Republic last year. Mr. Yadav, it is alleged, had recruited Mr. Gupta to find a hitman and have Pannun killed.

Also Read: U.S. charges Indian citizen Vikash Yadav, aka ‘CC-1’ in murder-for-hire plot against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun

Who is Vikash Yadav?

On Friday, U.S. prosecutors in New York announced the “filing of murder-for-hire and money laundering charges against Indian government employee Vikash Yadav, a/k/a “Vikas,” a/k/a “Amanat,” in connection with his role in directing a foiled plot to assassinate a U.S. citizen in New York City.

According to the Sealed Superseding Indictment of the United States District Court, Mr. Yadav was employed by the Cabinet Secretariat of the Government of India, which houses India’s foreign intelligence service, the Research and Analysis Wing (“R&AW”). Mr. Yadav has described his position as a “Senior Field Officer” with responsibilities in “Security Management” and “Intelligence.” He also has served in India’s largest paramilitary force – Central Reserve Police Force.

As per a ‘wanted’ notice issued by the FBI, Mr. Yadav was born in Haryana in 1984 and used “Amanat” as an alias when communicating with his co-conspirator, Nikhil Gupta, to facilitate the murder plot. He was an “Assistant Commandant,” at the CRPF with command of a 135-man company.

The DoJ document alleges Mr. Yadav provided information, such as the victim’s residential addresses, phone numbers, and other identifying information, to the Indian national in furtherance of the plot”.

The MEA has said that “the individual named in the U.S. indictment in Pannun case” is no longer an employee of the Indian government. “The U.S. State Department informed us that the individual mentioned in the indictment is no longer employed by India. I confirm that he is no longer an employee of the Government of India,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal announced at a press briefing.

Also Read: Pannun case: Unwarranted, unsubstantiated imputations, says India on media report

What is the Gurpatwant Singh Pannun murder plot? 

U.S. authorities believe the alleged plot to kill pro-Khalistani Sikh separatist, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is wanted on terror charges in India, was ordered by the previous chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), and had official sanction from senior intelligence officials with “with ties to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inner circle”, the Washington Post, a U.S.-national daily, reported.

The Pannun murder plot involves a foiled assassination attempt targeting Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a vocal critic of the Indian government and advocate for a separate Sikh state, Khalistan. Pannun, a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen, was allegedly targeted by Indian intelligence in a murder-for-hire plot. U.S. authorities charged Vikash Yadav, a former Indian intelligence official, with orchestrating the plan. According to the indictment, Mr. Yadav collaborated with other Indian agents to execute the plot in New York City in 2023.

The indictment alleges that Mr. Yadav along with his co-conspirator Nikhil Gupta plotted to kill the Sikh separatist leader . For this Mr. Gupta hired an individual to do the job. The unidentified individual, who was an informant to the FBI, asked for $100,000 for the job and received $15,000 as an advance payment on June 9, 2023.

What is the role of Vikash Yadav in the Nijjar killing? 

Relations between India and Canada have been under a severe strain since September last year, when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told his Parliament that there was evidence linking Indian agents to the assassination of Nijjar, a Sikh separatist who was shot dead in Surrey, Canada in June 2023.

The indictment reveals that there was a link between the murder of Sikh separatist Nijjar in Canada during the same period. Federal prosecutors have shared communications between Mr. Yadav, Mr. Gupta and the alleged killer in the two incidents.

Also Read: Who was Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Sikh activist whose killing has divided Canada and India?

While Mr. Gupta was arrested, Mr. Yadav remains at large, and the investigation continues amidst tense geopolitical relations between India and Canada.

“We’re not so different, you and I. We’ve both spent our lives looking for the weakness in one another’s systems. Don’t you think it’s time to recognize there is as little worth on your side as there is on mine?”

Those who’ve been rooting for Gary Oldman playing Jackson Lamb, the instantly unlikeable boss of the good-for-nothings of MI5, the British intelligence agency, in Apple’s Slow Horses, may not even remember this line the actor delivered playing another spy boss in another spy thriller: as George Smiley in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, a 2011 film based on John la Carre’s book. 

Addressed to Smiley’s Russian counterpart, Karla, this line, emblematic of the film’s politics, was celebrated and decried in equal measure for creating an equivalence between the US and the USSR during the Cold War. Going by the recent media stories and diplomatic activity, George Smiley could have very well said it about India and Canada today.

Blow Hot, Blow Cold

New Delhi and Ottawa have expelled each other’s top diplomats, following the Canadian Prime Minister’s latest accusation of the Indian establishment being directly involved in the assassination of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil. India, on the other hand, has not only denied it but also mounted a counterattack on Canada for nurturing anti-India groups within its territory. 

Fall is not fair weather for India-Canada relations. Exactly one year ago, the two countries were engaged in similar diplomatic acrimony over the same assassination. Khalistan, after nuclear proliferation, has been their proverbial bee in the bonnet for several decades. With the exception of the lull during the turn of the millennium, the issue has stayed alive and volatile. It is not going anywhere in a hurry.

Canada’s soft approach towards anti-India outfits was once attributed solely to its domestic politics: the country is home to the largest Sikh diaspora, with around 7,70,000 of them living there. The current strain in the relationship, however, may not just be about Canada’s vote bank politics or India’s internal affairs involving resistance from a sect of Sikhs. There is, quite clearly, an emergence of bilateral antagonism now. Are the rapprochement personnel doing their job well? Or, more provocatively, are the spies doing theirs?

Flashbacks From 1975

Realistically speaking, assassinations on foreign soil are not a no-go zone, even with declared enemies, if the assassins are smart. The morality and legality of such actions is another story. What, then, has compelled Canada, a limited ally, to make public its investigations in the Nijjar assassination case and hold India responsible? Has there been a slight or a breach of trust, intended or otherwise, behind the scenes that a public show is to be put up? Are there bad-faith actors at work on either side, or is it sheer incompetence? It could be either or both, but as venerable Canadian writer Margaret Atwood reminds us, “Stupidity is the same as evil if you judge by the results”. Therefore, it’s the breakdown of bilateral ties that matters, much more than the nitty-gritty of what caused it. 

This escalation of diplomatic tensions between India and Canada is beginning to loosely resemble another controversial diplomatic event that occurred half a century ago: the breakdown of the then newly forged Australia-North Korea relations. On October 30, 1975, Pyongyang recalled its diplomats from Canberra, citing the host country’s ‘unfriendly attitude’ and ‘intolerable provocative acts’ in a communication sent via commercial mail. Less than ten days later, Australian diplomats were ousted from Pyongyang on November 8 on account of ‘unfriendly behaviour’ and ‘abuse of diplomatic immunity’.

The actors and the times are different, but the problem is the same. This inability to smoothen out the rough edges time and again reflects poorly on the political and diplomatic leaders of India and Canada. What are long bilateral ties worth if they cannot withstand such events? Both Ottawa and New Delhi have engaged in the game of provocation and reconciliation. The classic blow-hot, blow-cold approach. To what end, though? 

A Lesson From Bridge Of Spies

Coming back to George Smiley’s wisdom, looking for weaknesses in the other is a zero-sum game. This isn’t the Cold War yet, but as India grows in stature, the chances of this game intensifying will increase correspondingly. India and Canada are not directly engaged in any military-territorial jostling, so these flare-ups have an even more limited scope. Both are citing long-term national security concerns, and other countries like the UK and the US are trying to broker ‘peace’ by urging India to cooperate in the investigation.

Diplomacy is an exercise in sifting fact from fiction but addressing both because both matter, even if unequally. Another popular culture reference to demonstrate it comes from Bridge of Spies, a 2014 film about the famous spy exchange between the US and USSR. James Donovan (Tom Hanks), a lawyer representing a Russian spy called Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance), tells him, “The case against you matters. Making them prove it matters. The fiction is: whether you did it or not doesn’t matter. The state has to prove it, that you’re a spy”.

Before anyone condescends about taking lessons from fiction, remember, apart from John la Carre, celebrated writers like Ian Fleming and Graham Greene once served in MI6. 

(Nishtha Gautam is a Delhi-based author and academic.)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author

“We’re not so different, you and I. We’ve both spent our lives looking for the weakness in one another’s systems. Don’t you think it’s time to recognize there is as little worth on your side as there is on mine?”

Those who’ve been rooting for Gary Oldman playing Jackson Lamb, the instantly unlikeable boss of the good-for-nothings of MI5, the British intelligence agency, in Apple’s Slow Horses, may not even remember this line the actor delivered playing another spy boss in another spy thriller: as George Smiley in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, a 2011 film based on John la Carre’s book. 

Addressed to Smiley’s Russian counterpart, Karla, this line, emblematic of the film’s politics, was celebrated and decried in equal measure for creating an equivalence between the US and the USSR during the Cold War. Going by the recent media stories and diplomatic activity, George Smiley could have very well said it about India and Canada today.

Blow Hot, Blow Cold

New Delhi and Ottawa have expelled each other’s top diplomats, following the Canadian Prime Minister’s latest accusation of the Indian establishment being directly involved in the assassination of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil. India, on the other hand, has not only denied it but also mounted a counterattack on Canada for nurturing anti-India groups within its territory. 

Fall is not fair weather for India-Canada relations. Exactly one year ago, the two countries were engaged in similar diplomatic acrimony over the same assassination. Khalistan, after nuclear proliferation, has been their proverbial bee in the bonnet for several decades. With the exception of the lull during the turn of the millennium, the issue has stayed alive and volatile. It is not going anywhere in a hurry.

Canada’s soft approach towards anti-India outfits was once attributed solely to its domestic politics: the country is home to the largest Sikh diaspora, with around 7,70,000 of them living there. The current strain in the relationship, however, may not just be about Canada’s vote bank politics or India’s internal affairs involving resistance from a sect of Sikhs. There is, quite clearly, an emergence of bilateral antagonism now. Are the rapprochement personnel doing their job well? Or, more provocatively, are the spies doing theirs?

Flashbacks From 1975

Realistically speaking, assassinations on foreign soil are not a no-go zone, even with declared enemies, if the assassins are smart. The morality and legality of such actions is another story. What, then, has compelled Canada, a limited ally, to make public its investigations in the Nijjar assassination case and hold India responsible? Has there been a slight or a breach of trust, intended or otherwise, behind the scenes that a public show is to be put up? Are there bad-faith actors at work on either side, or is it sheer incompetence? It could be either or both, but as venerable Canadian writer Margaret Atwood reminds us, “Stupidity is the same as evil if you judge by the results”. Therefore, it’s the breakdown of bilateral ties that matters, much more than the nitty-gritty of what caused it. 

This escalation of diplomatic tensions between India and Canada is beginning to loosely resemble another controversial diplomatic event that occurred half a century ago: the breakdown of the then newly forged Australia-North Korea relations. On October 30, 1975, Pyongyang recalled its diplomats from Canberra, citing the host country’s ‘unfriendly attitude’ and ‘intolerable provocative acts’ in a communication sent via commercial mail. Less than ten days later, Australian diplomats were ousted from Pyongyang on November 8 on account of ‘unfriendly behaviour’ and ‘abuse of diplomatic immunity’.

The actors and the times are different, but the problem is the same. This inability to smoothen out the rough edges time and again reflects poorly on the political and diplomatic leaders of India and Canada. What are long bilateral ties worth if they cannot withstand such events? Both Ottawa and New Delhi have engaged in the game of provocation and reconciliation. The classic blow-hot, blow-cold approach. To what end, though? 

A Lesson From Bridge Of Spies

Coming back to George Smiley’s wisdom, looking for weaknesses in the other is a zero-sum game. This isn’t the Cold War yet, but as India grows in stature, the chances of this game intensifying will increase correspondingly. India and Canada are not directly engaged in any military-territorial jostling, so these flare-ups have an even more limited scope. Both are citing long-term national security concerns, and other countries like the UK and the US are trying to broker ‘peace’ by urging India to cooperate in the investigation.

Diplomacy is an exercise in sifting fact from fiction but addressing both because both matter, even if unequally. Another popular culture reference to demonstrate it comes from Bridge of Spies, a 2014 film about the famous spy exchange between the US and USSR. James Donovan (Tom Hanks), a lawyer representing a Russian spy called Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance), tells him, “The case against you matters. Making them prove it matters. The fiction is: whether you did it or not doesn’t matter. The state has to prove it, that you’re a spy”.

Before anyone condescends about taking lessons from fiction, remember, apart from John la Carre, celebrated writers like Ian Fleming and Graham Greene once served in MI6. 

(Nishtha Gautam is a Delhi-based author and academic.)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testifies at the Foreign Interference Commission in Ottawa on October 16, 2024. Photo: The Canadian Press via AP

Conversations with India around the G-20 Summit in 2023 in New Delhi about the killing of Khalistani activistHardeep Singh Nijjar were based on intelligence and not proof, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a federal commission that is examining foreign interference in the country.

Mr. Trudeau on Wednesday (October 16, 2024) repeated the allegation that India was involved in the killing. He said the decision to go public on such a sensitive issue was taken to assure Canadians that the government was serious about their security. “We wanted the public to know that we were taking action…” said Mr. Trudeau.

The Canadian Prime Minister said it was a “massive mistake if India had done it”, adding that his government had “reasons to believe that India did it”. There was no discussion on evidence in the hearing as the proceeding moved on to other topics.

Mr. Trudeau said Canada did not want to end up in the current state of tension with India. “My position and Canada’s position is to defend the territorial integrity of India. ‘One India’ is our policy. There are a number of people in Canada who argue otherwise, but that does not make it our policy. It is also not something that is illegal in Canada,” he said. He said India’s response when the concerns were taken up with it was “to attack Canada, undermine our government and the integrity of our democracy”.

The Canadian PM said the intelligence gathering on Nijjar killing was prompted by requests from South Asian Members of Parliament from his country.

Upon gathering intelligence about India’s alleged involvement, “our immediate response was to communicate with Indian security agencies… Our attempt was to ensure that India-Canada relations were not blown up. At the G-20 summit… we did not want to make it uncomfortable for India,” Mr. Trudeau said, adding that he directly talked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue.

Mr. Trudeau said it was not surprising that India refused to waive diplomatic immunity for its officials who face Canadian allegations, suggesting that even Canada would refuse such requests.

New Delhi:

The Indian government will “naturally oppose any move giving political space to extremism and advocacy of violence”, the Foreign Ministry said Friday in its weekly press briefing.

The reference was to the Canadian parliament observing a moment of silence in the memory of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed outside a gurdwara in Canada’s British Columbia province last year. A video released by news agency IANS showed MPs observing silence after Speaker Greg Fergus said, “… I understand there is an agreement to observe a moment of silence in memory of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, assassinated in Surrey one year ago today.”

Nijjar was wanted in India for being the “mastermind” of the Khalistani Tiger Force, a designated terror group in this country. Last July, anti-terror agency NIA announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh for the capture of Nijjar in connection with the murder of a Hindu priest in Punjab’s Jalandhar.

READ | India’s Kanishka Reply To Canada Parliament’s Nijjar Move

Nijjar is also accused in the 2007 bombing of a cinema in Punjab.

On his killing, Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed “agents” of the Indian government were involved in killing Nijjar, a Canadian citizen. Those allegations, repeated frequently since, have led to tense relations between the two nations, including awkward moments between the Canadian leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi when India held the G20 Summit last year.

India has firmly rubbished Canada’s allegations, calling them “absurd” and “motivated” and noting that Mr Trudeau has yet to provide evidence, of any sort, to back his claim.

“Such unsubstantiated allegations seek to shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists… who have been provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Inaction of Canada is a matter of continuing concern,” the Indian side had side.

Nijjar’s murder is being investigated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and four Indian nationals have been arrested.

On the Canadian parliament’s move to honour the memory of Nijjar, the Indian consulate in Vancouver announced a memorial service – to be held on Sunday – to pay tribute to the 329 victims of the Air India flight bombed by Khalistani terrorists in 1985.

The Air India Flight travelling from Montreal to London had blown up 31,000 feet above the ground when a bomb planted by Canadian Sikh terrorists went off. The 329 passengers killed in the incident included 268 Canadian citizens, 27 British citizens, and 24 Indian citizens. This bombing is among the deadliest acts of aviation terrorism.

On that subject an Indian-origin Canada MP, Chandra Arya, said the ideology responsible for the terrorist attack is still alive among a few people in his country.

READ | Canada MP On Kanishka Bombing, Says “Dark Forces Energised Again”

Speaking in the Canadian Parliament, he said the celebration of ex-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination by “Khalistani supporters” demonstrated that “dark forces have been energised again”.

He also highlighted the concerns of Hindu Canadians regarding recent incidents.

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This image courtesy of Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) shows a booking photo of 22-year-old Amandeep Singh, a 4th Indian national charged with the murder of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
| Photo Credit: AFP

The Canadian authorities on May 12 arrested a fourth Indian national for his role in the killing of separatist Khalistan Hardeep Singh Nijjar, according to an official release.

Twenty-two-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) said that 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, the official release said.

“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.

Nijjar, 45, was killed outside Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18, 2023.

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.

All three individuals are Indian nationals living in Edmonton and have been charged with first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Karnataka JD(S) MLA H.D. Revanna being taken into custody by officials of a Special Investigation Team in a kidnapping case, on May 4, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

H.D. Revanna arrested from father Deve Gowda’s residence in abduction case

Former Karnataka Minister and Holenarsipura MLA H. D. Revanna was arrested from his father and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda’s residence in Padmanabha Nagar on May 4 at 6.45 p.m. The arrest came minutes after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the Special Court for Elected Representatives, Bengaluru. 

One soldier killed, four injured in terror attack on IAF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch

A soldier was killed and four were injured when militants ambushed a convoy of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Poonch on May 4. The IAF said the Air Warriors fought back by returning fire.

Sadiq Khan wins a historic third term as London Mayor; Tories suffer major defeats in local elections

The Labour Party’s Sadiq Khan won a record third term as London’s Mayor despite predictions that a low voter turnout of 40.5% in the May 2 election would harm him. With the last mayoral constituency declaring results late afternoon on Saturday, Mr. Khan easily won, with a 43.8% vote share compared to his main opponent, the Conservative Party’s Susan Hall, who came in with 32.7% of the vote.

India awaiting details about the arrest of three Indians in Canada in Nijjar murder case, says Jaishankar

India is waiting for details about the arrest of three Indians linked to the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Saturday.

Centre lifts onion export ban, but conditions apply

The Centre on Saturday lifted the prohibition on onion exports imposed nearly six months ago, but restrained the free flow of outbound shipments by stipulating a minimum export price of $550 per tonne as well as a 40% export duty.

In mission to trigger review of State OBC lists, NCBC hits a wall of absent socio-economic data

For the last one year or so, the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), under the chairmanship of former Union Minister Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, has been focused on triggering a pruning of State OBC lists in a bid to re-evaluate the continued inclusion of communities that might have progressed due to years of accruing benefits. 

Congress will ‘support cow killing’, impose Aurangzeb’s ‘jizya tax’, Yogi Adityanath says in Madhya Pradesh

The Congress wants to “implement Aurangzeb’s jizya tax” and also “support cow killing” as the party has become “directionless”, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Yogi Adityanath alleged on Saturday in Madhya Pradesh. 

BJP, JD(S) believe their alliance will survive the Prajwal ‘sexual abuse’ case

In the midst of the Parliamentary election, the sexual exploitation case allegedly involving the incumbent Hassan MP and Janata Dal (Secular) candidate Prajwal Revanna has brought the focus on the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Karnataka of which the JD(S) is a part.

RCB vs GT | Skipper du Plessis and pacers do it for Royal Challengers against Titans

An authoritative Royal Challengers Bengaluru shut down Gujarat Titans by four wickets at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday. A third win in a row pushed RCB to seventh on the points table, providing impetus to its playoff hopes.

Opposition should find issues against us that actually stick: Hardeep Singh Puri

The Prime Minister and the RSS chief have affirmed their support for reservations, says Hardeep Singh Puri, adding that the BJP-led NDA has done more for the SCs, STs, and OBCs than the previous governments. It is for the first time that a tribal person has become the country’s first citizen, he tells The Hindu.

The Supreme Court forewarned the ED that it may “consider” granting interim bail to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case due to the ongoing Lok Sabha election. File photo
| Photo Credit: PTI

Hardeep Singh Nijjar killing | Canadian Police arrest members of ‘hit squad’

The Canadian police on May 3 arrested three members of an alleged hit squad investigators in Ottawa believe was tasked by the Government of India with the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey in 2023, according to a media report. The ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations in September in 2023 of the “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar.

Top wrestlers criticise Brij Bhushan’s son getting BJP ticket for Lok Sabha polls

Top Olympic wrestlers have criticised BJP for fielding the son of their former federation chief in national elections, despite his father being charged with sexually harassing female wrestlers. Scores of wrestlers came out in protest last year seeking criminal action against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a BJP MP.

We may consider interim bail for Kejriwal due to polls, Supreme Court tells Enforcement Directorate

The Supreme Court forewarned the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday that it may “consider” granting interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case due to the ongoing Lok Sabha election. “Let me make it clear, we may consider interim bail because of elections,” Justice Sanjiv Khanna informed Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, appearing for the ED. 

India press freedom score falls, says Reporters sans Frontieres

India’s score in the World Press Freedom Index fell over the last year, from 36.62 to 31.28, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF for Reporters sans Frontières), which puts together an annual index of freedom enjoyed by journalists in 180 jurisdictions. India’s rank improved from 161 in 2023 to 159 in 2024, but this was because other countries had slipped in their rankings. The government has in the past dismissed international rankings of freedoms in India as propaganda.

Manipur groups mark one year of conflict with cry for peace, justice

Both Kuki-Zo and Meitei groups on Friday held events across Manipur and in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar to mark one year since the beginning of the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipurbetween the two communities, with several Kuki-Zo and Meitei organisations calling for peace and making their case before the Centre.  

BJP should answer allegations of harassment against Governor: CM Mamata Banerjee

The tears of the woman who levelled allegations of sexual assault against West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose were heart-breaking, the State’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on May 3. “Yesterday, a young woman who worked at Raj Bhavan came out and spoke against the Governor’s harassment… Yesterday, the tears of the woman broke my heart,” the Chief Minister said at an election rally, adding that she has seen the woman’s video testimony. 

India, Indonesia agree to enhance collaboration in defence industry, maritime security

India and Indonesia on Friday agreed to enhance collaboration in areas of defence industry, maritime security and multilateral cooperation at the seventh India-Indonesia Joint Defence Cooperation Committee meeting held in New Delhi. It was chaired by Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and Secretary-General of Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence Air Marshal Donny Ermawan Taufanto.

Pakistan imposes restrictions on movement of Chinese nationals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after recent attack

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government in Pakistan has implemented measures requiring Chinese citizens to travel with armoured vehicles while in the region, Dawnreported. This decision was disclosed by a senior police official during a meeting held on May 1. 

China launches lunar probe mission to collect samples for first time from far side of moon

China on May 3 launched a lunar probe mission to collect samples for the first time from the far side of the moon and bring them to Earth for scientific studies. The Chang’e-6 mission is tasked with collecting and then returning samples from the moon’s far side to Earth — the first endeavour of its kind in the history of human lunar exploration, China National Space Administration (CNSA) said.

IPL-17: MI vs KKR | Venkatesh and Pandey’s partnership proves the difference as Knight Riders edge Mumbai Indians

Dominate the middle overs and win the match. That seems to be the flavour of the Indian Premier League this season. The same was on display at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday as the Kolkata Knight Riders clinched a convincing win despite having its back to the wall early on in the game.

Twenty20 World Cup West Indies squad | Rovman Powell to lead, rookie Shamar called in

Rajasthan Royals power-hitter Rovman Powell will lead a strong West Indies squad, filled with some of the world’s best franchise freelancers, in the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Americas. One of the prominent names included is rookie pace sensation Shamar Joseph, who is a part of Lucknow Super Giants in this edition of IPL.