Amandeep Singh, the fourth person arrested and charged in connection with the killing of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar, made his first court appearance in Canada on Wednesday. The 22-year-old Indian national was arrested on March 11 and charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Singh appeared before a provincial court in British Columbia virtually from a holding facility in the Greater Toronto Area. He has agreed to a trial, and his next court appearance is scheduled for May 21, along with the other three individuals who were arrested earlier.
According to Canadian media reports, Singh is alleged to be one of the two gunmen involved in Nijjar’s killing on June 18 last year in Surrey, British Columbia. He was already in custody of the Peel Regional Police on unrelated charges when he was named in the Nijjar case.
The arrests of the individuals involved in Nijjar’s murder have sparked controversy, with pro-Khalistan protesters gathering outside the courthouse during the court appearances. Canadian investigators have not yet announced any link to the Indian government in relation to the murder, but investigations are ongoing.
The killing of Nijjar strained relations between India and Canada, with allegations of potential links between Indian agents and the murder. India’s High Commissioner to Ottawa described the arrests as an “internal” matter for Canada. The case continues to unfold as more details emerge.