India on Tuesday welcomed Canada’s latest remarks that found no evidence linking Indian government officials to the killing of pro-Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, saying the statement aligns with the recently unsealed US indictment against jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his associates.
Responding to questions, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India has consistently maintained that transnational organised crime, terrorism, narco-trafficking, human trafficking and illegal firearms networks pose a serious threat to societies worldwide. He added that India remains committed to working closely with international partners to combat such crimes through law enforcement and security cooperation.
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The comments came after Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Deputy Commissioner Lisa Moreland told CBC News that investigators had found no evidence suggesting Indian government officials were involved in the Nijjar murder through the organised crime investigation.
The development follows the US Department of Justice’s indictment of Lawrence Bishnoi and his aide Goldy Brar for allegedly ordering Nijjar’s assassination. The charges emerged after “Operation Hardball”, a coordinated crackdown involving law enforcement agencies from the US, Canada and Europe that targeted three transnational criminal syndicates. Authorities arrested 24 alleged gang members accused of murder, extortion, shootings, narcotics trafficking and other cross-border crimes.
Jaiswal noted that India and the United States have strengthened cooperation over the years in tackling terrorism and organised crime, with coordination between agencies continuing to deepen.
Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had alleged a possible link between Indian government agents and the killing, an accusation New Delhi repeatedly rejected as baseless.
The controversy led to one of the worst diplomatic crises between India and Canada, resulting in the expulsion of diplomats, visa restrictions and closure of consular services. Relations have gradually improved since Prime Minister Mark Carney took office, with both sides attempting to separate bilateral engagement from the ongoing criminal investigation.
