Canada-based Khalistani terrorists behind killing of Shaurya Chakra awardee teacher in India: NIA

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has informed the Supreme Court that a Khaliatani terrorist based in Canada masterminded the 2020 murder of Shaurya Chakra awardee comrade Balwinder Singh Sandhu in the Indian state of Punjab.

India’s premier investigative agency in its submission to the court said Sukhmeet Pal Singh, alias Sunny Toronto, and Lakhveer Singh alias Rode were tasked to kill Sandhu. 

The conspiracy was allegedly hatched by Sunny Toronto in order to eliminate anti-Khalistani entities in India.  

While Sunny Toronto is an operative of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), Rode is the nephew of Jarnail Singh Bhindrawala and head of the terror outfit, International Sikh Youth Federation and KLF. 

“The main objective of the Khalistan Liberation Force is to create Khalistan by means of an armed struggle,” the NIA said in its affidavit.

It added that anyone opposed to the Khalistan ideology was deemed a target by the group who intended to kill them. 

Notably, Sandhu was shot dead by unidentified assailants outside his house at Bhikhiwind in Tarn Taran district in October 2020. He was awarded the Shaurya Chakra for fighting against militancy in the state in the 1990s.

The development comes in the backdrop of the Khalistani separatist movement gaining pace in Canada with the liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seemingly giving its tacit backing. 

Canada in recent days has doubled down on its claims that the Indian government was behind the killing of Khalistani terrorist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Ottawa claims it was an attack on a Canadian citizen while New Delhi has asked for proof while refuting the allegations.  

On Monday (Oct 14), India recalled its High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Verma and other top diplomats, saying it had lost faith in the Trudeau government to protect its assets. 

“We have no faith in the current Canadian Government’s commitment to ensure their security. Therefore, the Government of India has decided to withdraw the High Commissioner and other targeted diplomats and officials,” read a statement by the ministry.  

Later in the day, six Canadian diplomats, including Charge d’Affaires, Stewart Wheeler were asked to leave India by or before 11:59 pm local time on Saturday (Oct 19).

(With inputs from agencies)