Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Canadian Sikh separatist (1977–2023) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hardeep Singh Nijjar (11 October 1977 – 18 June 2023) was a Canadian Sikh separatist leader[3] involved with the Khalistan movement, which calls for an independent Sikh state.[4]
Hardeep Singh Nijjar | |
---|---|
Born | (1977-10-11)11 October 1977 |
Died | 18 June 2023(2023-06-18) (aged 45) Surrey, British Columbia, Canada |
Cause of death | Multiple gunshots |
Citizenship |
|
Organization | Sikhs for Justice |
Movement | Khalistan |
Born in India, Nijjar migrated to Canada in the mid-1990s.[5] Sikh organizations viewed Nijjar as a human rights activist, while the Indian government accused him of being a criminal and terrorist affiliated with the militant Khalistan Tiger Force, and sought his arrest.[6][7][8] Nijjar and his supporters rejected these allegations, saying he advocated peaceful means for creation of Khalistan.[8] Nijjar gained prominence in 2019, when he became the leader of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurudwara (temple) in Surrey, British Columbia, and became an advocate of Sikh separatism.[9] Nijjar was also associated with Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), and spearheaded the group's Khalistan Referendum 2020 campaign.[8]
On 18 June 2023, Nijjar was shot and killed in the parking lot of a Sikh temple (Gurdwara) in British Columbia.[10][11] On 18 September 2023, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that Canadian intelligence agencies were "pursuing credible allegations of a potential link" between Indian government agents and the assassination of Nijjar.[12] After the killing, Canada expelled an Indian diplomat from the country. India's foreign ministry denied involvement in the killing, and expelled a top Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move.[13][14][15]
In May 2024, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) arrested three Indian nationals, who were charged with killing Nijjar.[16][17] The Canadian investigations are ongoing, including into possible connections between the killing and the Indian government.[17][18]