Pannun urges Canada to pursue accountability over alleged Indian officials’ role in Nijjar killing

INTERNATIONAL DESK (Nazrana Times): Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) General Counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has urged Canada’s Mark Carney government to pursue criminal accountability over the alleged involvement of Indian officials in Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing. He questioned whether trade negotiations with India could influence the handling of the case.

In his statement, Pannun cited the US assassination-plot case involving Nikhil Gupta and Vikash Yadav, saying the American indictment also contained information relating to Nijjar’s killing.

Gupta has pleaded guilty in US assassination-plot case

According to the US Department of Justice, Gupta pleaded guilty to three offences connected with a plot to assassinate a US citizen in New York. US authorities have also charged Yadav, whom they described as an Indian government employee at the relevant time.

The allegations against Yadav remain distinct from Gupta’s guilty plea. Media reports citing court documents have stated that Gupta’s sentencing is scheduled for November 20.

US documents refer to Nijjar’s killing

The Justice Department’s account refers to Nijjar’s killing in British Columbia on June 18, 2023. It alleges that, the following day, Gupta told an undercover officer that Nijjar had also been a target.

That reference does not, by itself, establish any individual’s criminal responsibility for Nijjar’s killing.

Pannun makes further allegations about consular officials

Pannun claimed Canadian authorities possessed messages showing that Indian consular officials provided intelligence and logistical assistance to the killers. He also alleged that Yadav recruited individuals linked to Bishnoi and Brar for Nijjar’s assassination. These specific claims have not been independently verified for this report.

He called for relevant evidence to be presented during proceedings against Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh, Karanpreet Singh and Amandeep Singh, who have been named as accused in the Nijjar case. He questioned whether investigators would pursue those allegedly responsible for recruiting and directing the killers.

Canada’s earlier allegations and India’s denial

In October 2024, Canada announced the expulsion of six Indian diplomatic and consular officials, citing alleged violent criminal activity involving agents linked to the Indian government. India has rejected the Canadian allegations.

Pannun’s latest statement does not establish that new charges or a court ruling have been issued. His suggestion that trade negotiations could lead to evidence being withheld is a question he has raised, rather than an independently established development. No independent evidence supporting that suggestion accompanied the supplied statement.