- The fourth accused has been identified as Amandeep Singh
- Amandeep Singh charged with murder and conspiracy to murder
- Amandeep Singh already in police custody
Police have arrested a fourth suspect for their alleged involvement in the killing of Khalistan militant Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. Nijjar was murdered on June 18, 2023, outside a gurudwara in Surrey, British Columbia. The fourth accused has been identified as Amandeep Singh (22). According to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) in British Columbia, Amandeep Singh was already in the custody of Peel Regional Police in Ontario in connection with a weapons case.
Charged with conspiracy to commit murder
A police statement said the BC Prosecution Service has sufficient information to charge Amandeep Singh with murder and conspiracy to commit murder based on evidence from an investigation by IHIT. Police said that Amandeep Singh is an Indian citizen, residing in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.
Three Indian nationals arrested
Investigators have not released further details of the arrest, citing the ongoing investigation and court proceedings. The arrest comes days after Canadian police arrested three Indian nationals Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh and Karanpreet Singh in Edmonton. All three were also charged with first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Nijjar has been shot dead
It is worth mentioning that Hardeep Singh Nijjar was declared a terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the year 2020. In June last year, Nijjar was shot dead as soon as he came out of a Gurdwara in Surrey. Six people and two vehicles were involved in the attack.
Diplomatic tensions between Canada and India
Currently, the Canadian police have not provided any evidence of any link with India, as was being speculated in the Canadian media. Nijjar’s killing sparked diplomatic tensions between Canada and India, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accusing India of complicity in the killing. However, his claim was rejected by New Delhi.
We have not been given any evidence
Regarding the three Indians arrested in Canada in the Nijjar murder case, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said that we have not been given any evidence or information in this matter. Canada has informed us of the arrest, but we have not received any formal communication. Asked whether India has granted consular access to the three Indians arrested in the Nijjar murder case, the Ministry of External Affairs said it has not received any request from Canada as the accused have not yet sought consular access.
