A person walks past signs showing Hardeep Singh Nijjar at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, B.C., on Friday, May 3, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS
In Surrey, B.C., three Indian citizens accused of murdering Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar are set to appear in court on Tuesday. Karanpreet Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karan Brar were apprehended in Edmonton last week and will face charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
The victim, Nijjar, known for advocating an independent Sikh homeland and serving as president of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, was fatally shot in his pickup truck outside the Surrey temple's parking area last June.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau previously mentioned credible intelligence linking India's government to Nijjar's killing, a claim the Indian government denies. Authorities, upon announcing the recent arrests, stated ongoing investigations regarding a potential connection to the Indian government.
Nijjar had been actively involved in organizing unofficial referendums advocating for an independent Sikh state in India, a stance that led to him being labeled as a terrorist by the Indian government.
