Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar killed in Surrey, Canada

Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, wanted by the Indian government, was killed in a targeted shooting in Canada's Surrey.

Nijjar was the chief of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and was also included in the list released by the Indian government, naming 40 other designated terrorists.

Reports state that Nijjar was found dead inside a car with bullet wounds in the parking lot of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Sahib of which he was the head, at Surrey at 8:27 pm (local time) on Sunday. Quoting preliminary information, the officials told PTI that Nijjar was shot by two unidentified assailants and had died on the spot.

Officials also added that when his body was being moved from the scene by the Canadian police, a group of Sikhs raised pro-Khalistan and anti-India slogans.

As per Hindustan Times, he was wanted in at least four NIA cases. Last year in July 2022, NIA had also declared a reward of ₹10 lakh on Nijjar who was linked to a conspiracy to kill a Hindu priest in Punjab’s Jalandhar in 2021. “NIA has declared a cash reward of ₹10 lakh against Nijjar... Any information pertaining to the absconding accused leading to his arrest or apprehension, may be shared... the identity of the informer shall be kept secret,” the NIA had said. 

Earlier on 17 June, Delhi Police sources had told ANI that National Investigation Agency (NIA) will be investigating the attacks on Indian High Commission in Canada and the US by the Khalistani elements. Reportedly, there have been multiple cases of attacks and protests by Khalistani elements outside Indian High Commission in the two countries. FIRs were also registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) by Delhi Police Special Cell regarding the March 2023 attack in Canada, and San Fransisco (US). 

Nijjar death also comes few days after a close aide of Amritpal Singh Avtar Singh Khanda died in the UK. Khanda was the chief of the UK-based terrorist group Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF). He was also known as Ranjodh Singh and was a political asylum seeker in the UK. Khanda was suffering from blood cancer and took his last breath at the Sandwell Hospital in Birmingham. Khanda played a major role in radicalising Sikh youth towards the separatist movement.

In the last phase of his life, Avtar Singh was working in close association with UK based fugitive militant Paramjit Singh Pamma and Nijjar who were spearheading secessionist campaign ‘Referendum 2020’ of banned organisation ‘Sikhs For Justice’.

(More details awaited)