Fourth suspect arrested in Hardeep Singh Nijjar's killing case
What's the story
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) of British Columbia (BC), Canada, has announced the arrest of a fourth individual in relation to the June 2023 murder of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The subject, identified as Amandeep Singh, is also an Indian national, splitting his time between Brampton, Ontario; Surrey, BC; and Abbottsford, BC. According to an IHIT release issued on Saturday, Amandeep , 22, was already in the custody of Peel Regional Police in Ontario on unrelated firearms charges.
Charges filed
Amandeep charged with first-degree murder
Singh has been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. "We pursued the evidence and gained sufficient information for the BC Prosecution Service to charge Amandeep Singh with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder," stated the police. They added, "This arrest shows the nature of our ongoing investigations to hold responsible those who played a role in the homicide of Hardeep Singh Nijjar."
Twitter Post
The suspect was already in custody on unrelated firearms charges
Fourth Indian charged in Hardeep Singh Nijjar murder in Canada. Amandeep Singh, 22, was already in police custody for gang related violence. pic.twitter.com/BmXSsjjMpR
— Man Aman Singh Chhina (@manaman_chhina) May 12, 2024
Prior arrests
Previous arrests in Nijjar's murder case
Last week, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) made the first arrests in the Nijjar killing case. Karan Brar (22), Kamalpreet Singh (22), and 28-year-old Karanpreet Singh, all Indian citizens, were arrested in Edmonton. Like Amandeep, the trio have also been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Nijjar, a Canadian national designated an "individual terrorist" by India under stringent UAPA in July 2020, was assassinated outside Surrey's Guru Nanak Sikh Gurudwara on June 18, 2023.
Diplomatic tensions
India's response to the arrests and allegations
Nijjar's killing had sparked a diplomatic spat between India and Canada last year after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged the involvement of "Indian agents" in the assassination. The charge was dismissed as "absurd" and "motivated" by India. The diplomatic fallout later resulted in the expulsions of senior diplomats from both countries. The two countries are currently discussing issues such as the activities of pro-Khalistan elements and threats against Indian diplomats in Canada.