Is India hiring gangs to kill political enemies in Canada?
May 8, 2024
25:41
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Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar's assassination in Canada raises suspicions of Indian government involvement, blurring lines between organized crime and foreign policy. Evan Dyer's exclusive reporting delves into the connections, potential hits on political enemies, and safety concerns within the Canadian Sikh community.
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Quick takeaways
Indian government may be hiring gangs for political assassinations in Canada.
Overlap of organized crime and state actions blurs lines in targeted killings of Sikh activists.
Deep dives
Hardee Singh Nijar's Murder and Diplomatic Fallout
The murder of Hardee Singh Nijar, a Canadian Sikh activist, outside a Gudwara in Surrey, British Columbia, raised suspicions of a potential link to the Indian government, straining diplomatic relations. Nijar, accused by India of terrorism due to his association with the Khalistan Tiger Force, was reportedly targeted for his involvement in separatist referendums. The arrest of three men connected to Nijar's murder suggests a broader nexus involving Indian government agents utilizing local organized crime for clandestine operations.
Links Between Gang Activity and Political Motives
The arrested men belonging to the Lawrence Bishnoy Gang, known for involvement in extortion, drugs, and hired killings, indicate a convergence of political vendettas and criminal operations. Additional murders in Edmonton and Winnipeg, possibly linked to Nijar's killing, blend political activism with organized crime ties. The intertwining of political agendas and criminal activities underscores a complex web of motives shaping targeted assassinations within the Sikh diaspora.
High-Level Government Involvement and Plausible Deniability
Speculations regarding India's high-ranking officials, possibly including Prime Minister Modi's inner circle, orchestrating targeted killings suggest a sophisticated nexus between state actors and criminal elements. Despite official denial and attempts to distance themselves, evidence points to intricate communication channels reaching the top echelons of the Indian government. The strategic use of criminal proxies offers a layer of deniability for state-sponsored operations aimed at silencing dissidents within global Sikh communities.
In June of 2023, Sikh activist and Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar was gunned down outside a gurdwara in Surrey, B.C., after evening prayers. Three men have now been arrested and charged with his murder, and all three are affiliated with a gang with ties to Punjab. But sources close to the investigation believe these men were just hired guns, acting on orders from the top levels of the Indian government's intelligence service.
CBC senior reporter Evan Dyer breaks down his exclusive reporting on this story and the increasingly blurring lines between organized crime and Indian foreign policy.