Karan Brar, 22, Kamalpreet Singh, 22, and Karanpreet Singh, 28, all Indian nationals residing in Edmonton, have been arrested and charged on Friday with first-degree homicide and conspiracy to commit homicide.
Three Indian nationals accused of killing Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar final yr appeared earlier than a Canadian court on Tuesday by way of video for the primary time to face murder fees as a whole lot of native Khalistan supporters confirmed up on the courthouse.
Karan Brar, 22, Kamalpreet Singh, 22, and Karanpreet Singh, 28, all Indian nationals residing in Edmonton, have been arrested and charged on Friday with first-degree homicide and conspiracy to commit homicide.
The three – believed to be members of an alleged hit squad – appeared earlier than the Surrey Provincial Court in British Columbia province, the Vancouver Sun reported.
Each of them appeared individually from North Fraser Pretrial Centre carrying jail-issued pink T-shirts or sweatshirts and sweatpants.
All three agreed to have the proceedings heard in English and every of them nodded that they understood the fees of first-degree homicide and conspiring to homicide Nijjar, the report mentioned.
Hundreds of native Khalistan supporters confirmed up on the courthouse. A separate overflow room contained in the courthouse was opened to accommodate a further 50 individuals who wished to witness the listening to.
Another 100 or so folks exterior the courthouse waved Khalistan flags and carried posters supporting Sikh separatism.
Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, was shot useless exterior a gurdwara in Surrey on June 18, 2023.
The indictments Friday allege the conspiracy unfolded in each Surrey and Edmonton between May 1, 2023, and the date of Nijjar’s killing.
The alleged hitmen entered Canada over the previous 5 years and have been suspected of involvement in the world of drug trafficking and violence, in line with native police.
India had on Thursday rejected contemporary feedback by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the killing of Nijjar and mentioned the remarks as soon as once more illustrated the political area given in Canada to separatism, extremism, and violence.
Trudeau addressed a Khalsa Day occasion in Toronto on Sunday that was attended by some pro-Khalistan supporters.
The ties between India and Canada got here below extreme pressure following Trudeau’s allegations in September final yr of the ”potential” involvement of Indian brokers in the killing of 45-year-old Nijjar.
India has dismissed Trudeau’s fees as ”absurd” and ”motivated.” The presence of Sikh separatist teams in Canada has lengthy annoyed India, which had designated Nijjar a ”terrorist.” After three Indian nationals have been arrested in reference to the homicide, Police in Canada mentioned that they had labored with US regulation enforcement companies, with out giving further particulars.
The police steered extra arrests is likely to be coming. Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Assistant Commissioner David Teboul, the drive’s commander for the Pacific area, mentioned Friday that he would not touch upon the alleged hyperlinks between the three males arrested and Indian officers however famous the drive is ”investigating connections to the federal government of India.” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday mentioned what is going on in poll-bound Canada over the killing of Nijjar is usually resulting from their inner politics and has nothing to do with India.
He mentioned a bit of pro-Khalistan individuals are utilizing Canada’s democracy, making a foyer, and have turn into a vote financial institution.
The ruling get together in Canada has no majority in Parliament and a few events rely upon pro-Khalistan leaders, he mentioned.
“We have convinced them several times not to give visa, legitimacy or political space to such people which is causing problems for them (Canada), for us, and also for our relationship,” Jaishankar mentioned.
But the Canadian authorities has not executed something, Jaishankar mentioned, including that India sought the extradition of 25 folks, most of whom are pro-Khalistan, however they didn’t pay any heed.
“Canada did not give any proof. They do not share any evidence with us in certain cases, police agencies also do not cooperate with us. It is their political compulsion in Canada to blame India. As elections are coming in Canada, they indulge in vote bank politics,” the minister mentioned.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DNA employees and is revealed from PTI)
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