Page 6 - The Indian EYE 052424

NATION MAY 24, 2024 | The Indian Eye 6

NIJJAR & PANNUN CASES

India demands evidence,

US goes silent till “charges proved”

and Moscow backs New Delhi

The Canadian Police on Saturday arrested a fourth suspect over

his alleged involvement in the killing of Nijjar who was shot outside the Gurdwara

in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18

OUR BUREAU
New Delhi/Washington, DC/Moscow

s the controversy over the alleged murder
plots in the US and Canada refuses to die
Adown, External Affairs Minister S Jaishan-
kar has once again denied receiving any evidence
implicating Indian nationals’ involvement in the
killing in Canada of India-designated terrorist
Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Responding to media queries here, Jaishankar
stated, “I also read that another arrest has been
made. If that person is an Indian national, then
usually by consular practice, you inform the govern-
ment or the embassy of the country of origin. But
beyond that, we have long maintained that if any-
thing, any event in Canada, any violence in Canada,
has any evidence or information which is relevant
to be investigated in India, we are open to investi-
gating it.”
He emphasised that while any Indian national’s
arrest would usually prompt notification to the gov-
ernment or embassy, no specific evidence justifying
investigation by Indian agencies has been received
to date.
“But to date, we have never received anything
which is specific and worthy of being pursued by our
investigative agencies. And I’m not aware anything External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addresses a media conference (ANI)
has changed in the last few days in that regard,” the
External Affairs Minister said at a media interac- deep Singh with first-degree murder and conspiracy Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was designated a
tion. to commit murder,” the police statement said. terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency in
The Canadian Police on Saturday arrested a The police said that Singh is an Indian national, 2020, was shot and killed as he came out of a Gurd-
fourth suspect over his alleged involvement in the splitting his time in Canada in Brampton, Ontario; wara in Surrey in June last year. The attack was de-
killing of Nijjar, Canada-based CBC News report- Surrey, British Columbia, and Abbotsford, British scribed as ‘highly coordinated’ and involved six men
ed. Nijjar was killed outside the Gurdwara in Sur- Columbia, as reported by CBC News. Investigators and two vehicles. Notably, the Canadian police has
rey, British Columbia, on June 18. The accused has haven’t given any further details of the arrest, citing not given any evidence of any link to India, as was
been identified as Amandeep Singh (22). ongoing investigations and court processes. being speculated in Canadian media.
According to the Integrated Homicide Investi- This comes days after the Canadian police ar- Nijjar’s killing triggered diplomatic tensions
gation Team (IHIT) in British Columbia, Singh was rested three Indian nationals -- Karan Brar, Kamal- between Canada and India after Canadian Prime
already in the custody of Peel Regional Police in preet Singh and Karanpreet Singh -- in Edmonton. Minister Justin Trudeau alleged India’s hand in the
Ontario for unrelated firearms charges. “IHIT pur- The trio was charged with first-degree murder and killing -- a claim New Delhi has rejected, calling it
sued the evidence and gained sufficient information conspiracy to commit murder in relation to the ho- “absurd” and “motivated.”
for the BC Prosecution Service to charge Aman- micide. Continued on next page... >>

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