NEW DELHI: Indian diplomats and consular officials based in Canada leveraged their official positions to engage in clandestine activities, such as collecting information for Indian govt that was used to target members of the South Asian community, alleged Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) that is handling the probe into the Hardeep Singh Nijjar murder case. RCMP had arrested three persons in the Nijjar case in May this year.
Shortly after India recalled its high commissioner Sanjay Verma, following Canada’s allegation that he was a ‘person of interest’ in the same case, RCMP said that Indian diplomats collected information either directly or through their proxies, and other individuals who acted voluntarily or through coercion.
RCMP said that an extraordinary situation had compelled it to speak about what it had discovered in multiple ongoing investigations into the involvement of Indian govt agents in serious criminal activity in Canada.
“Evidence also shows that a wide variety of entities in Canada and abroad have been used by agents of the govt of India to collect information. Some of these individuals and businesses were coerced and threatened into working for the Indian govt. The information collected is then used to target members of the South Asian community,” said the agency, adding that this evidence was presented directly to Indian govt officials, urging their cooperation in stemming the violence.
“RCMP is hoping to address these threats through our relationship with the govt of India and the National Investigation Agency with the end goal of strengthening the safety and security of the Canadian public and South Asian community,” it said.
India, however, reiterated on Monday that Canada had not shared any evidence to link Indian govt agents with the crime.
RCMP claimed to have obtained evidence that demonstrates four “very serious issues”. These include violent extremism impacting both countries, links tying agents of the Indian govt to homicides and violent acts, use of organised crime to create a perception of an unsafe environment targeting the South Asian community in Canada and interference into democratic processes. RCMP also claimed that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang active in Canada is linked to Indian government agents.
RCMP claimed that the Canadian Police’s efforts to meet with their Indian counterparts to discuss violent extremism occurring in both countries proved to be unsuccessful, after which New Delhi officials were approached over the weekend.
