News Brief
Former KTF chief Hardeep Nijjar (Pic Via Twitter)
In a big setback for Canadian government, all the four accused Indian nationals in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar has been granted bail.
The four accused Indian citizens - Karan Brar, Amandeep Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karanpreet Singh - were charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
The trial has been moved to the British Columbia Supreme Court, with the next hearing scheduled for 11 February, India Today reported.
Khalistani terrorist Nijjar was shot dead by unidentified gunmen near a Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia in June 2023.
Earlier last year, the Canadian government opted for a direct indictment in the case against four Indian nationals accused of killing Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, bypassing pre-trial proceedings in the Surrey Provincial Court.
Relations between India and Canada have been tense since Trudeau accused Indian government agents of playing a role in Nijjar’s killing in June 2023.
India has strongly denied the claims, labelling them “absurd” and politically motivated, while accusing Canada of sheltering individuals engaged in terrorism and criminal activities targeting Indian interests.
Tensions worsened last month when the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) alleged Indian agents were involved in crimes such as murder, extortion, and intimidation in Canada, and named India's ambassador to Canada as a person of interest.
India rejected the charges and recalled its ambassador and other officials. New Delhi also expelled six senior Canadian diplomats.