- Tuesday, April 01, 2025
A dossier prepared by the Indian intelligence agencies said the slain Khalistan separatist leader also funded terror activities in various parts of India, besides Punjab.
By: Shubham Ghosh
WHILE a major diplomatic row broke out between India and Canada over the assassination of Khalistan separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, designated a “terrorist” by New Delhi, was instrumental in training, financing and putting into operation his outfit and agents in Canada, a dossier prepared by the Indian intelligence agencies said, according to Indian media outlets.
It said the slain leader, who went to Canada on a forged passport in the mid-1990s and lived a low-profile life there, also went to Pakistan to receive training. He also funded terror activities in the northern Indian state of Punjab and in the other parts of the country, it was added.
Among one of India’s most-wanted terrorists, Nijjar was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey in British Columbia, Canada, by two unidentified persons on June 18. He was the chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), an outfit banned by India.
Nijjar, who had a house in Bhar Singhpura village in Jalandhar district of India’s Punjab, was introduced to the life of a gangster by one called Gurnek Singh alias Neka, the dossier added. He was associated with Khalistan Commando Force militants in the 1980s and 1990s. Since 2012, he had close links with Jagtar Singh Tara, a top KTF leader convicted in the killing of the former chief minister of Punjab, Beant Singh.
Nijjar visited Pakistan as a member of the Baishakhi Jatha (a group of pilgrims) in April 2012 and received arms and explosive training for a fortnight, the dossier added, according to Indian media.
Sources said that the late Nijjar was radicalised by Tara and groomed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence, India Today reported. He joined the KTF after Tara became its chief in 2013. Nijjar also had meetings with Tara and ISI officials around 2013 and 2014 for making the KTF stronger and conducting terror activities in Punjab.
The slain separatist leader allegedly started gathering funds for terror activities after returning to Canada through his associates that were engaged in arms and drug smuggling in the North American nation.
Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau on September 18 alleged that Indian government agents were behind Nijjar’s killing, claiming “credible allegations” were shared with India weeks ago, leading to a massive outrage with India denying the charges.
