🇨🇦 Hardeep Nijjar Assassination Case Adjourned to October
This marks the fourth adjournment in the high-profile assassination case of the self-styled Khalistan ideologue, involving four young Sikh men with Indian citizenship charged with murder.
High-Profile Assassination Case Adjourned Again
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada — The high-profile assassination case of Surrey Sikh Gurdwara President Hardeep Singh Nijjar was adjourned to October 1 by the Supreme Court of British Columbia on Wednesday, August 7, as thousands of pages of documents remain undisclosed to defence lawyers. The Supreme Court of British Columbia, the province's superior trial court with general and inherent jurisdiction, can hear any type of case, civil or criminal, aside from its appellate jurisdiction.
Fourth Adjournment Since May
This marks the fourth adjournment since May 15 in the case involving Nijjar, a 45-year-old self-styled Khalistan ideologue and declared "terrorist" by the Government of India. Nijjar was shot dead on June 18, 2023, in the parking lot of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, located in the 7000-block of Scott Road in Newton. His body was found in his truck.
Arrests and Charges
In May 2024, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) arrested three Indian nationals and charged them with Nijjar's murder: Karan Brar (22), Karanpreet Singh (22), and Kamalpreet Singh (28). A fourth suspect, Amandeep Singh (22), also an Indian national, was subsequently arrested in Brampton, Ontario, on May 11, 2024. Three weeks before Nijjar was gunned down in an ambush, Amandeep Singh was charged by Surrey RCMP with fleeing police and dangerous driving.
Court documents show that, in this relatively non-serious criminal case, Amandeep Singh had signed an undertaking on June 6, 2023, agreeing to appear in court and made a declaration that he did not possess firearms. Twelve days later, however, he allegedly opened fire on Nijjar in the Gurdwara parking lot, a killing believed by some to be a political assassination. Prior to the shooting, Amandeep Singh was reportedly in the vicinity of the B.C. Gurdwara and allegedly behaving erratically, according to court filings.
Disclosure Challenges, Investigation and Trial
Defence lawyers appeared on behalf of their accused clients via video on Teams on August 7, alongside Crown Prosecutor Louise Kenworthy, who requested the adjournment. Kenworthy informed the court that the Crown has been diligently working to provide disclosure to the defendants, but the process is expected to take several more months. To date, the defence has received approximately 10,000 pages of disclosure, with an additional 10,000 pages anticipated by the end of next week. The voluminous nature of the court documents filed and still in the pipeline indicates that the RCMP's investigation has been comprehensive and exhaustive. This suggests that the trial could potentially be lengthy. The trial is expected to take place in the British Columbia Supreme Court, Canada.
Community Reaction
Moninder Singh, spokesman for the B.C. Gurdwaras Council, addressed the delays outside the court, acknowledging the frustration felt by Nijjar's family and the community. He emphasised the importance of understanding the judicial process. "The time it's taking for the trial to actually start or even get to a point where we get kind of movement on this, it can be frustrating... but we do understand that this is a part of the process in the Canadian judicial system," Singh said.
Life Sketch of Nijjar and Accusation in India
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, born on October 11, 1977, in Jalandhar, Punjab, India, moved to Canada in 1997, settling in British Columbia where he became a plumber, married, had two sons, and became a Canadian citizen in 2007. He served as President of a Sikh gurdwara in Surrey and was a vocal advocate for Khalistan, organizing referendums with Sikhs For Justice. The Indian government accused him of being the “mastermind” behind the Khalistan Tiger Force, being involved in the 2007 Shingaar cinema bombing, the 2009 assassination of Sikh politician Rulda Singh, and plotting other terrorist activities. He was also accused of running terrorist training camps in British Columbia and plotting to transport ammunition into India. In 2020, India designated him a terrorist, offering a Rs 10 lakh reward for information on him in 2022.
Despite these accusations, Nijjar denied involvement in any militant activities and was never charged with crimes in Canada, asserting that he was a peaceful advocate for Sikh independence and human rights. Those close to him have said he was warned by Canadian intelligence services before his death that he was on a "hit list".
BBC Coverage of the Shooting
Hardeep Nijjar, 45, was shot and killed by two gunmen wearing dark clothes and hoods outside a Sikh Gurdwara in a Vancouver suburb on a June summer evening last year. Eyewitnesses reported to the BBC that bullets shattered the windows of his grey pickup truck as he sat behind the wheel. Nearby football players initially mistook the gunshots for fireworks before realising the danger. Some gave chase and saw the suspects speeding away in a waiting car. Police confirmed that Mr Nijjar died at the scene.
Allegations and Political Context
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a vocal advocate for an independent Sikh nation in India, known as Khalistan. His supporters allege that the Indian government was involved in his assassination. Moninder Singh stated that Nijjar's supporters are more interested in how the Canadian government will address these allegations, during the course of the trial or otherwise.
Last September, Prime Minister Trudeau informed the House of Commons that there was "credible" intelligence linking Indian government agents to Nijjar's killing, a claim the Government of India dismissed as "absurd." We had castigated Trudeau for his irresponsible remarks.
Ongoing Attention and Political Implications
The case continues to draw significant attention and scrutiny, particularly within the Sikh community in Canada and generally in Punjab. The next court date is set for October 1. Political observers will be closely monitoring the trial, especially the testimony of witnesses, for any indications of involvement by state actors from India. As the trial progresses this autumn, the revelations could have far-reaching implications on Indo-Canadian relations and the broader geopolitical landscape.