The Canadian government has expelled six Indian diplomats and consular officials following serious allegations that they were involved in violent crimes targeting opponents of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration.
Sources indicate that these agents operated from India’s High Commission in Ottawa and its consulates in Vancouver and Toronto, participating in a range of violent acts, including shootings, killings, threats, arson, and extortion, Global News reported.
The victims of this campaign were primarily supporters of the Khalistan movement, which advocates for independence in India’s Sikh-majority Punjab region. However, individuals who merely opposed the Modi government were also targeted, according to insiders familiar with the situation.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that the government acted to disrupt the operations linking Indian diplomats to organized crime in Canada, which had led to significant threats against public safety. He announced the expulsion during a press conference, though he provided few specifics.
Sources revealed that Indian diplomats reportedly used coercion and financial incentives to recruit members of the South Asian community in Canada to gather intelligence. Victims were allegedly threatened with visa denials if they refused to cooperate, with tasks including surveillance on fellow community members.
The evidence points to involvement from organized crime groups in India, such as the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which were allegedly contracted to carry out violent acts. Notable incidents linked to this scheme include the 2023 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C., and a recent shooting that targeted a Punjabi singer's home on Vancouver Island.
Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma is said to have overseen these operations. Following the RCMP's notification to India regarding the diplomats’ involvement, India expelled six Canadian diplomats in response, including acting high commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler.
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme confirmed that investigations have connected Indian government agents to serious criminal activities in Canada, posing a significant threat to public safety. He emphasized that these diplomats used their official status to engage in clandestine operations, gathering intelligence for the Indian government.
While it is not uncommon for countries to assign intelligence agents under diplomatic cover, the alleged involvement in criminal activities is unprecedented. The Canadian government has opted to treat the situation as a diplomatic issue rather than pursuing legal charges, as Ottawa seeks to avoid a diplomatic confrontation with India.
The World Sikh Organization (WSO) of Canada expressed that they had long suspected Indian diplomatic involvement in Nijjar's murder, underscoring a history of targeting Sikhs in Canada. The WSO vowed to continue advocating for Khalistan and against human rights abuses in India, reaffirming their commitment to their cause.