Following the arrest of three suspects in the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, others in the Sikh community in Canada are worried about being assassinated and want the federal government to do more to ensure their safety.

Ottawa

Sikh activists in Canada are calling on the federal government to intensify their efforts in ensuring their safety following the arrest of three suspects in the assassination of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The Sikh community, particularly those advocating for Sikh separatism and the creation of a homeland called Khalistan, are expressing their concerns over potential threats to their lives, pointing to the murder of Nijjar as a significant failure in intelligence and protection measures.

The fears among Canadian Sikhs stem from suspicions of being targeted by the Indian government, with some citing ongoing foreign interference and clandestine activities by Indian officials in Canada. According to a recent report by Justice Marie-Josée Ugg on foreign interference, there is evidence of Indian officials using proxies to engage with and target individuals associated with Khalistani separatism, deemed a seditious threat by India.

The World Sikh Organization is advocating for increased protection for separatists, highlighting that Nijjar had been warned about threats to his life without receiving adequate resources to defend himself. Canada's public safety minister has promised justice for Nijjar's family and assures that those responsible will face the justice system. However, specifics on measures to enhance the safety of others within the Sikh activist community remain limited, heightening feelings of vulnerability among many.

The investigation into Nijjar’s murder has revealed that the three arrested individuals may have connections to a prominent Indian gang, indicating a potentially larger conspiracy at play. This has amplified concerns within the Sikh community regarding the possibility of future attacks orchestrated by organized crime syndicates acting at the behest of the Indian government.



Sikh activists want Canada to do more to ensure their safety

Canadian Sikhs are on edge, fearful they could be targeted by India's government, despite three arrests in the murder of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. I don't think these arrests are going to change a heck of a lot until the operating minds are exposed. The World Sikh Organization wants better protection for separatists like Nijjar, who want a Sikh homeland called Khalistan. He was told repeatedly that his life is in danger, but he wasn't given any resources to defend himself or to prevent an attack on his life. The assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar was an abject failure of Canadian intelligence as far as I'm concerned. This week's report on foreign interference released by Justice Marie-Josée Ugg suggests Canada is concerned about India's clandestine footprint. Foreign interference, which is generally but not exclusively the work of authoritarian regimes. Writing in her report, Indian officials rely on networks of proxies to liaise and work with Indian intelligence officials in India and Canada. They target people aligned with Khalistani separatism, which India views as a seditious threat. Those responsible for the killing of this Canadian citizen on Canadian soil will be held to account and face the justice system. Canada's public safety minister is promising justice for the Nijjar family, but he's tight-lipped about what Ottawa will do to keep other people safe. I think we need to have confidence that the RCMP will do the work. That's left some Sikhs feeling vulnerable. This is very clearly a part of a much larger conspiracy. Sources who spoke to CBC News believe the three men arrested have ties to a powerful Indian gang. And while those ties are being investigated, community leaders fear an assassin could strike again. It's India that is actively using organized crime syndicates to target Sikh activists.

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