NEW DELHI: Four people charged with the murder of NIA-listed terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar have been released from custody, according to documents filed by the Canadian Department of Justice on Thursday.
The accused (Mr. Karan Brar, Mr. Karan Singh, Mr. Amandeep Singh, Mr. Kamalpreet Singh, Mr. Karanpreet Singh) are accused of murder and conspiracy in connection with the murder of Mr. Nijjar on June 18, 2023. was charged with a crime.
Court documents indicate the defendant’s status as “non-custodial,” marked with an “N.” News of their release comes days after former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned.
The incident occurred in the parking lot of a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, where Nijjar, the leader of the Khalistan Tiger Force, was shot dead in what was described as a “contract killing.”
A video of the incident, which allegedly surfaced in March 2024, showed armed men attacking Nijjar as he came out of the gurdwara.
Nijjar’s murder is at the center of tense diplomatic relations between India and Canada. Prime Minister Trudeau has claimed that Indian government officials may have been involved in the murder, but India has consistently denied the claims, calling them “absurd” and “motivated.”
India accuses Canada of harboring extremist and anti-India elements, including supporters of the Khalistan movement.
Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that despite the arrest of an Indian national in connection with Nijjar’s murder, Canada had not provided any concrete evidence or formal communication regarding the case.
British Columbia’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT), which is handling the case, has charged a person with murder and conspiracy. However, despite Canadian media speculation, Canadian authorities have not presented any evidence linking the defendants to India.
