Ottawa: Canada and India each expelled six diplomats in tit-for-tat moves as part of an escalating dispute over June 2023 assassination of Sikh activist in Canada.

Senior Canadian government official said that Canada was expelling six Indian diplomats, including High Commissioner, after police uncovered evidence of ongoing violent criminal activity linked to Indian government.

Shortly afterward, Indian Foreign Ministry said it was expelling six Canadian diplomats, including acting High Commissioner and Deputy High Commissioner. It said in statement that diplomats were told to leave India by end of Saturday.

Ministry had said earlier Monday that India was withdrawing its diplomats, after rejecting Canada’s diplomatic communication that said Indian ambassador was “Person of interest” in assassination.

Second senior Canadian official said that Canada expelled Indian diplomats first before they withdrew. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly on matter.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last year that there were credible allegations that Indian government had links to June 2023 assassination in Canada of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Mike Duheme said that police have evidence allegedly tying Indian government agents to homicides and other violent acts in Canada. He declined to provide specifics.

Nijjar, 45, was fatally shot in his pickup truck in June 2023 after he left Sikh temple he led in city of Surrey, British Columbia.

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 15 2024

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