New Delhi refutes news reports linking Indian officials to Hardeep Nijjar killing in Canada

The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday refuted reports alleging that Indian officials were involved in the 2023 killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

P Kumaran, the ministry secretary (east), said that New Delhi rejects the allegations that India is involved in transnational violence or organised crime.

Nijjar was an advocate for Khalistan, an independent Sikh nation sought by some groups. He was the head of the Khalistan Tiger Force, which is a designated terrorist outfit in India.

On Monday, a report in the Toronto-based newspaper The Globe and Mail claimed, quoting unidentified officials, that Canadian security officials had received evidence that Indian consular staff in Vancouver had supplied information to allegedly assist in the 2023 killing of Nijjar.

The reporter also cited a report by Canadian newspaper The National Post on Sunday that quoted Ottawa’s domestic intelligence agency as alleging that India continues to be among the main perpetrators of foreign interference and espionage against the country.

During a press briefing later on Monday, Kumaran said the claims were “baseless, politically motivated and unsupported by credible evidence despite repeated requests”.

“India believes that concerns of this nature must be addressed through credible law enforcement and judicial processes, not through public or politicised narratives,” he added.

#WATCH | Delhi: P Kumaran, Secretary (East), says, "India categorically rejects allegations of...

Read more