Canadian police charge three individuals in connection with the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, leading to a diplomatic dispute with India: documents

Canadian police have charged three individuals with the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia, Canada. Nijjar, 45, was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver with a large Sikh population. The news comes after the White House expressed concern about the reported involvement of the Indian intelligence service in assassination plots in Canada and the United States.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had previously announced that Canadian authorities were investigating allegations linking Indian government agents to Nijjar’s murder. The Indian government has denied these claims as “absurd.”

The suspects, all Indian nationals, were identified by investigators in Canada months ago and have been under tight surveillance. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are expected to provide more details about the case in a media briefing.

The murder of Nijjar, labeled a “terrorist” by India, has sparked a diplomatic spat between the two countries. Canada has been pressing India to cooperate in the investigation, especially after U.S. authorities revealed an Indian government official’s involvement in a plot to assassinate another Sikh separatist in the U.S. and Canada.

Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc confirmed that the investigation into Nijjar’s murder is still ongoing. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported that the suspects had been closely monitored by authorities. The case continues to raise questions about the relationship between Canada and India, as well as the presence of Sikh separatist groups in Canada.