In a further escalation of diplomatic tensions, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have accused Indian government agents of using organized crime groups, particularly the Bishnoi gang, to target pro-Khalistani elements in Canada.

The allegation fuels the ongoing dispute between Ottawa and New Delhi, which began last year when Canada accused Indian officials of being involved in the killing of Canadian citizen and Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

At a press conference, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme and Assistant Commissioner Brigitte Gauvin revealed that the Indian government is allegedly using criminal groups to target members of the South Asian community, with particular emphasis on pro-Khalistan activists. “What we have seen, from the RCMP perspective, is that they are using elements of organized crime,” Gauvin said, further attributing these actions to the Bishnoi gang, which has been publicly linked to Indian agents .

These accusations were strongly rejected by the Indian government, which called them “absurd” and politically motivated. The latest assertion follows Ottawa’s expulsion of six Indian diplomats earlier this week and deepened the diplomatic crisis between the two nations.

The RCMP says it has gathered “clear and convincing evidence” linking Indian agents to these crimes, although specific details remain secret due to ongoing investigations. According to RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme, the evidence reveals “the breadth and depth of criminal activity orchestrated by agents of the Indian government,” which includes more than a dozen imminent threats to life, primarily targeting members of the pro-Khalistan movement. Sikh separatist group. So far, 30 people have been charged with these crimes, some of whom alleged links to Indian government officials.

Canada’s allegations of Indian interference have focused on activities involving violent crimes and the targeting of Sikh separatists, fueling ongoing concerns about foreign influence in Canadian domestic affairs. RCMP said they are continuing to investigate the case and more evidence is expected to surface.

Who was Hardeep Sindh Nijjar?

The murder of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023 was confirmed as one of the homicides linked to Indian government agents. Nijjar, designated a terrorist by New Delhi, was an active figure in the pro-Khalistan movement. Other killings, including that of Sukhdool Singh in Winnipeg in September 2023, are also believed to be linked to Indian officials, according to some reports, although this has not been independently confirmed.

The diplomatic standoff marks a new low in Canada-India relations, already strained by allegations of foreign interference, and further complicates the geopolitical landscape between the two nations.