A senior Canadian police official has said investigators found no evidence connecting Indian government officials to the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023. The findings differ from earlier allegations made by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, which had strained relations between the two countries.
Lisa Moreland, Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, made the comments hours after US investigators charged Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar with ordering the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The charges followed Operation Hardball, a joint crackdown by law enforcement agencies from the US, Canada and Europe. The operation led to the arrest of 24 individuals allegedly linked to three India-based organised crime groups, including the Bishnoi gang.
According to the charges, the accused were involved in Nijjar's murder and several other cross-border organised crime activities. Moreland said investigators found no evidence that Indian government officials had any role in Nijjar's killing.
Responding to a question about Trudeau's earlier allegations, she said, "There's no evidence to suggest through this organised crime investigation and the charges and the indictment laid forward that Indian officials were charged or involved."
Moreland also said the Indian government cooperated with the investigation. A few weeks after Nijjar was shot dead outside a gurdwara in British Columbia in June 2023, then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that Indian government agents were linked to the killing.
India strongly rejected the allegation, calling it "absurd."
The diplomatic row that followed led India to accuse Canada of allowing pro-Khalistani groups to operate freely from its territory.
In October 2024, India recalled its High Commissioner and five other diplomats after Canada attempted to link them to the Nijjar case. India also expelled the same number of Canadian diplomats in response.
Relations between the two countries began improving after Liberal Party leader Mark Carney won Canada's parliamentary elections in April last year.
Since then, India and Canada have restored their High Commissioners and agreed to revive several bilateral mechanisms to strengthen cooperation in different sectors.
According to the report, ties have improved further following Prime Minister Carney's visit to India in March.
Moreland said the probe revealed that the Bishnoi gang has been involved in extortion, drug trafficking, kidnappings and violent crimes in Canada and other countries.
Also read: Nijjar murder case: FBI announces $50,000 reward for Goldy Brar
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