Blair Gable/Portal
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to reporters in the foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, September 18, 2023. Portal/Blair Gable
CNN –
There are “credible allegations” linking the Indian government to the killing of a Canadian citizen and prominent Sikh leader, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed on Monday.
“In recent weeks, Canadian security agencies have been actively investigating credible allegations of a possible link between agents of the Indian government and the murder of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar,” Trudeau said, adding that his government will take all steps necessary “to identify the perpetrators to bring this murder to justice.”
Nijjar was a prominent Sikh leader in British Columbia and was shot dead in his truck by two masked gunmen outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, B.C., in June, according to local police.
His death both shocked and outraged Canada’s large Sikh community, which now numbers hundreds of thousands.
India designated Niijar a terrorist threat several years ago and described him as part of a separatist movement for Sikhism.
“Canada has expressed its deep concerns to the Indian government’s top intelligence and security officials. Last week at the G20 summit I addressed them personally and directly to Prime Minister Modi, without a doubt. “Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty,” Trudeau said during his speech in Parliament, saying it was an “extremely serious matter.”
Canadian police have not arrested anyone in connection with Niijar’s murder, but in an August update, police released a statement saying they are now investigating three possible suspects, released a description of a possible getaway vehicle and asked the public for help.
CNN has reached out to the Indian High Commission in Ottawa for comment but has not received a response.