Amid a massive diplomatic row between India and Canada over the killing of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, New Delhi has reportedly added a Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) official, identified as Sandeep Singh Sidhu, to his list of fugitive terrorists wanted for deportation.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police this week publicized allegations that Indian diplomats were targeting Sikh separatists in Canada by sharing information about them with their national government.

They said senior Indian officials then passed that information to Indian organized crime groups who targeted the activists, who are Canadian citizens, with drive-by shootings, extortion and even murder.

India, for its part, has dismissed the Canadian accusations as absurd, and its foreign ministry said it was expelling Canada’s acting high commissioner and five other diplomats in response.

Reports indicate that Sandeep Singh Sidhu, a CBSA employee and member of the banned International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), is accused of promoting terrorist activities in Punjab. Sandeep Singh Sidhu allegedly had links with Pakistan-based Khalistan terrorist Lakhbir Singh Rode and other ISI agents, who allegedly played a role in the 2020 assassination of Balwinder Singh Sandhu.

Shaurya Chakra Award winner Balwinder Singh Sandhu became a symbol of resistance for his efforts against Khalistan militants during the Punjab insurgency and for his opposition to the Khalistan referendums led by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) in the United States. United and Canada.

Times Now reported that Sandeep Singh Sidhu has been promoted to CBSA Superintendent. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) claims that Canada-based Khalistani operatives, including Sunny Toronto and terrorist Lakhbir Singh Rode, sheltered in Pakistan, orchestrated Sandhu’s murder. It is still unclear whether “Sunny Toronto” is a pseudonym for Sandeep Singh Sidhu.

This report comes days after Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal pointed out in a press briefing that at least 26 extradition requests from the Indian side, sent over the last decade or more, were still pending with Canadian authorities.

“There are 26 extradition requests pending on the Canadian side, these are from the last decade or more, besides that there are several provisional arrest requests, which are also pending on the Canadian side, of certain criminals,” said Randhir Jaiswal.

He added: “We have shared security-related information with the Canadian government regarding gang members, including those of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, and asked them to arrest them (the criminals)… Until now , no action was taken by the Canadian side. at our request.”

The MEA statement comes as Canadian officials earlier this week accused Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang of targeting Khalistan dissidents in Canada at the behest of New Delhi.

Jaiswal added: “We find it really strange that now people we wanted to expel or take action (against)… we are being told that the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) are accusing the Indian side of crimes. committed by these people in Canada.