OTTAWA, Canada: At least six men were involved in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a worship place in British Columbia few weeks back, suggest the unreleased security camera video seen by some media outlets.
The video shows a sedan blocked the truck of Hardeep Singh Nijjar before two gunmen killed him. The authorities have not yet revealed details of the operation. Nijjar’s killing was captured by a gurdwara security camera and the video has been shared with investigators.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister #Melanie Joly confirms #Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar killed on Canadian soil by
Indian state sponsored terrorism against #Sikhs head of #RAW Expelled from #Canada#India#HardeepSinghNijjer#TrudeauNationalDisgrace#KhalistanReferendum pic.twitter.com/d3uKEBfZej— KHAN (@hotdevil07) September 25, 2023
Local Sikh community members, meanwhile, say the authorities have told them little about their investigation into the June 18 killing outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara here. They believe that police were slow to the scene, and disagreement among the agencies caused further delay.
ALSO READ: Sikh Community Starts Protests Outside Indian Missions in Canada
In a bombshell announcement, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Canada’s House of Commons last week that authorities were pursuing “credible allegations” that agents of the Indian government were involved in the killing. The allegations were based in part on information gathered by one of Canada’s partners in the intelligence-sharing Five Eyes alliance.
Nijjar, 45, the president of the gurdwara, was a leader in the Khalistan movement, which aimed to establish an independent Sikh state in the Punjab region of India. He had received death threats, his family said. The Khalistan movement is outlawed in India. In July 2022, India’s National Investigation Agency accused Nijjar of conspiring to murder a Hindu priest in Punjab and labelled him a “fugitive terrorist.”
But the government of Narendra Modi has rejected claims that it had any role in his death as “absurd”. Eyewitnesses describe the events leading up to and following the assassination, including the number of assailants, their attire, and the shocking number of bullets fired.
Community members express their concerns about the lack of protection provided to Nijjar before the killing and the scarcity of information since the incident. Some members reveal that they too have faced threats.
With Prime Minister Trudeau’s involvement and acknowledgment of possible Indian government involvement, there is renewed hope among community members for answers and justice.
