India: Canada has no evidence
Accused murderers had ties to Delhi?
NEW DELHI — India said Thursday Canada has informed it about the arrest of three Indian men who’ve been charged with the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia last year, but insisted no relevant information or specific evidence about Delhi’s involvement has been shared by the Canadian authorities to date.
Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal told reporters the two countries were discussing the issue, but accused Canada of providing shelter to those who are advocating violence against India.
He said Delhi had complained to the Canadian authorities the people associated with organized crime in India had been allowed entry and residency in Canada.
“Many of our extradition requests are pending.
“Our diplomats have been threatened with impunity and obstructed in their performance of duties,” Jaiswal added. We are having discussions at the diplomatic level on all these matters.”
The killing of Nijjar last year set off a diplomatic spat after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that there were “credible allegations” of Indian involvement.
India rejected the accusations. The three arrested Indian men in Canada haven’t yet sought any access to Indian diplomats there, Jaiswal said.
The three — Kamalpreet Singh, 22, Karan Brar, 22, and Karanpreet Singh, 28 — appeared in court Tuesday via video and agreed to a trial in English.
They were ordered to appear in B.C. Provincial Court again on May 21.
They were arrested last week in Edmonton.
They’ve been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
RCMP Supt. Mandeep Mooker said Friday the probe into whether the men had ties to India’s government was ongoing.