Both Nijjar And His Lawyer Says Canada’s CSIS Warned Him There Was A Plot To Kill Him!

The brazen Sunday evening killing of Khalistani leader and president of Surrey Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Hardeep Singh Nijjer has sent shock waves in the Sikh world, which is blaming Indian government agencies for carrying out the heinous killing of an innocent man whose only crime was advocating for a independent Sikh homeland. On Monday, the World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) called on Canadian intelligence and law enforcement to fully investigate the assassination of Nijjar, including the role of foreign interference, specifically from India.

By PD Raj – Senior Writer DESIBUZZCanada

SURREY – The brazen Sunday evening killing of Khalistani leader and president of Surrey Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Hardeep Singh Nijjer has sent shock waves in the Sikh world, which is blaming Indian government agencies for carrying out the heinous killing of an innocent man whose only crime was advocating for a independent Sikh homeland.

On Monday, the World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) called on Canadian intelligence and law enforcement to fully investigate the assassination of Nijjar, including the role of foreign interference, specifically from India.

Nijjar was assassinated in a targeted shooting Sunday night in the parking lot of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey BC.  Nijjar was the gurdwara’s president and an outspoken supporter of Khalistan.  He often lead protests against the violation of human rights in India and in support of Khalistan.  

The Government of India’s National Intelligence Agency had placed a bounty of one million rupees for his capture in July 2022.  Nijjar denied being involved in any criminal activity and said he was being targeted for his advocacy in support of Khalistan.  Nijjar was placed on India’s ‘blacklist’ and Indian authorities seized and appropriated the land he held in his native village in Punjab, as punishment for his activism. 

Nijjar had publicly spoken of the threat to his life for months and said that he would be targeted by Indian intelligence agencies.  The Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS) and local law enforcement were aware of the threat to Nijjar as well as other Sikh activists in Canada.    

Nijjar’s assassination follows the assassination of other Khalistan activists in recent months.  Last week, Avtar Singh Khanda, a prominent Khalistan activist in the UK, died in suspicious circumstances.  Indian media claimed that Khanda had been poisoned.  In May, another prominent Khalistan activist, Paramjeet Singh Panjwar, was killed in a targeted shooting in Lahore, Pakistan. 

WSO President Tejinder Singh Sidhu said:“The assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar is gravely alarming for Sikhs in Canada.  Nijjar openly and repeatedly stated that he would be targeted by Indian intelligence and this was made known to CSIS and law enforcement.  CSIS has known that Nijjar faced an imminent threat to his life for months.  The fact that he was assassinated in this manner is a failure of these bodies to provide protection to someone they knew would be targeted. 

Sidhu said the role of foreign interference from India must be thoroughly investigated and those responsible for this crime must be brought to justice. 

Thousands of Sikhs have fled India due to human rights abuses and oppression. India has a long track record of extra-judicially murdering individuals it accuses of being ‘anti-national’, but seeing this happen in Canada is deeply concerning for our community and should be a wake-up call for all Canadians, our government, and security-intelligence bodies.

While this killing may have had the intention of striking fear into the hearts of Sikhs, it will have the opposite effect.  Sikhs will continue to fearlessly advocate for Khalistan and against Indian human rights abuses, as they have the right to do.”

Meanwhile back in Surrey, IHIT has taken over the investigation following the shooting at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara.

“We are in the early stages of our investigation.  We understand there is a lot of speculation regarding the motive of this homicide, but we are dedicated to learning the facts and letting the evidence lead our investigation.” says Sgt. Timothy Pierotti of IHIT. “We are aware that many people were present at the time of the shooting.  It’s important that investigators speak to each person.  Anyone who has yet to speak to police is asked to please contact IHIT immediately.”

IHIT is asking anyone with information regarding the investigation, or anyone with dash-camera video who was in the area of 122 Street or who was in the parking lot of the Gurdwara, to contact the IHIT Information Line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.  

New York lawyer Gurpatwant Singh Pannun told Postmedia that he talked to Nijjar on Saturday.

He said Nijjar, who was gunned down at 8:27 p.m. outside the temple, was in “good spirits” despite getting the disturbing news from someone with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.

“They told him that there were threats to his life,” the lawyer said.

Pannun’s name was also mentioned by CSIS, according to Nijjar, who was supposed to meet the agent Tuesday to get more information.

“He said that he’s going to update me once he speaks to them.”

Nijjar also said he had heard from community members that “there are people in Vancouver who are trying to procure arms or weapons to kill.”

Nijjar and his lawyer have been leaders of a campaign for Khalistan — the separate Sikh nation some want created in India’s Punjab state. They have been organizing a referendum on the issue, reported Postmedia.

Pannun said both have faced hostility and threats on social media from pro-India accounts.

Still, he said he was shocked to learn of the murder Sunday of his close friend.

“He is more than a client. He’s like my younger brother,” Pannun said. “I lost a part of me.”

Nijjar never had security with him despite the threats.

“He wasn’t worried about his safety. He was worried about how we would accomplish Khalistan and how we would accomplish the referendum,” Pannun said.

A large crowd gathered outside the temple after the murder, shouting “Long live Khalistan” and blaming the murder on the India government, reported Postmedia.