Three Indians accused of killing Khalistan separatist Nijjar appear before Canadian Court
- In Reports
- 02:28 PM, May 08, 2024
- Myind Staff
Three Indian nationals, who are accused of being involved in the killing of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar, made an appearance in a Canadian court following their arrests.
All three individuals appeared via a video link before Judge Delaram Jahani at a British Columbia provincial court in Surrey, the location where Nijjar was killed. Nearly 100 protesters, many holding Khalistani flags and anti-India posters, gathered outside the courthouse.
The accused individuals, Karan Brar, 22, Kamalpreet Singh, 22, and Karanpreet Singh, 28, all residents of Edmonton, face charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Nijjar met his demise in the parking area of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Sahib in Surrey on June 18 last year, and some of the protesters originated from that temple.
Their appearance from the North Fraser Pretrial Centre served as a procedural step, during which they were informed of the charges levelled against them.
Brar and Karanpreet Singh have legal representation, while Kamalpreet Singh does not. All three are scheduled to appear before the court again on May 21.
Karanpreet Singh's lawyer, Jay Michi, was quoted by the Canadian Press agency as stating that everyone, regardless of citizenship status, is entitled to due process protection. Brar's lawyer, Richard Fowler, expressed determination to ensure fair trials for those charged with these offences, particularly in light of the significant community interest.
During the court proceedings, all three individuals were attired in prison uniforms, and an interpreter was available to assist with translating exchanges between English and Punjabi.
Pro-Khalistan protesters displayed posters featuring the three accused, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and India's senior-most diplomats in Canada.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and officers from the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) have stated that the probe into the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar is "ongoing".
As of now, Canadian investigators have not announced any link to the Indian government regarding the murder. However, on Friday, Assistant Commissioner David Teboul, Commander of the Federal Policing Program in the Pacific Region, mentioned that there are "separate and distinct investigations ongoing", which include "investigating connections to the Government of India".
The killing of Nijjar on June 18 in Surrey, British Columbia, led to strained relations between India and Canada after Trudeau's statement in the House of Commons three months later, where he mentioned "credible allegations" of a potential link between Indian agents and the murder. India responded by dismissing these charges as "absurd" and "motivated".
Image source: Times of India
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