Ottawa: Three Indian nationals accused of murdering Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar were presented in court via video conferencing on Tuesday, their first court appearance via video, the Globe and Mail reported. During the hearing, members of the Sikh community of British Columbia gathered in the Surrey courtroom. Pro-Khalistan protesters raised slogans and held placards outside the Surrey Provincial Court, holding the Indian government responsible for Nijjar’s killing.
Judge Delaram Jah. briefly interrogated the three suspects Karan Brar, Karanpreet Singh and Kamalpreet Singh.
Through their lawyers, Brar and Karanpreet Singh decided to appear again on May 21. The court has not yet set a new date for Kamalpreet Singh, who has sought legal advice, the Globe and Mail reports.
The three men were detained in Edmonton on Friday last week and charged with first-degree murder and murderous conspiracy in connection with the June 2023 shooting of Nijjar, which has severely strained Canada’s ties with India. Had caused harm.
India and Canada are battling an unprecedented diplomatic crisis after the Canadian Prime Minister accused Indian government agents of killing Nijjar. However, India has rejected the allegations as “absurd” and “motivated”.
In June last year, Nijjar was shot dead after coming out of a gurudwara in the Vancouver suburb of Surrey. A video clip of his murder had reportedly surfaced in March this year, purportedly showing Nijjar being shot by the assailants in what was claimed to be a ‘contract killing’.
Amid the ongoing investigation into the Indian government’s alleged ties, Canadian police released photographs of all three people arrested in the killing of India-designated terrorist Nijjar last year.
Along with photos of the three accused, Canadian police also released photos of the car that is believed to have been used by the suspects in and around the Surrey area before the murder.
Surrey, RCMP’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) said that on the morning of May 3, IHIT investigators, with the assistance of members of the British Columbia and Alberta RCMP and the Edmonton Police Service, arrested three people for June 20. 2023 Nijjar’s murder.
On May 4, Canada’s New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh made a fresh allegation of India’s involvement in Nijjar’s murder.
However, the Canadian police administration did not share any evidence linking India to the killing of the Khalist. leader.
Jagmeet’s party supports the Trudeau-led Liberal minority government in exchange for support on some key bills. After Canadian police announced the arrest of three alleged accused in Nijjar’s murder, Jagmeet reiterated his claim of an Indian hand in the incident.
“The Government of India hired assassins to murder a Canadian citizen at a place of worship on Canadian soil. There were 3 arrests today. Let me be clear – any Indian agent or state actor who ordered, planned or carried out this murder must be exposed and prosecuted with the full force of Canadian law. For Canada, democracy and freedom of expression – Hardeep Singh Nijjar must get justice,” Jagmeet posted from his X handle.
In the year 2023, the head of the Government of Canada had pointed fingers at India, accusing it of being involved in a massacre. India strongly responded to these allegations and rejected them as absurd and with a hidden agenda. So far, Canadian authorities have failed to produce any concrete evidence linking India to the crime.
