Indian Investigative Agency Files Case Against Canada-Based Khalistani Supporter

The Indian National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has registered an FIR against Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an alleged Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) militant based in Canada.

The FIR was registered on May 3 following the concern of the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs over activities of Khalistani extremists in Punjab. The home ministry had ordered an NIA investigation against Nijjar, the Indian Express reported.

Nijjar was one of the people named on the list of wanted men that was given by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during his India trip in February this year. The Indian government has held Nijjar responsible for multiple targeted killings, including that of Rulda Singh, who was then heading the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), in 2009.

Following the FIR, now the NIA will attempt for the extradition of Nijjar, who is wanted in many cases associated with terror in Punjab, the report said.

Nijjar, who hails from Jalandhar district, is currently based at Surrey in Canada. He is believed to have been “conspiring and planning to carry out a major terrorist attack in India,” according to the home ministry.

“He has been engaged in several activities that are prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, such as sourcing finance to procure arms and ammunition and training Sikh youth for carrying out terrorist activities in India,” the ministry said in its communication to the NIA, according to the report.

The case was registered under IPC Sections 124A (sedition) and under IPC sections of promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language among others. This is the second FIR the NIA filed against Nijjar this year; the first one was on April 14.

Punjab CM Amarinder Singh had discussed issues linked to internal security of the state and nexus between Khalistani militants as well as local gangsters with Home Minister Rajnath Singh recently, the publication reported.

On the basis of intelligence reports, it was determined that Nijjar has “some associates in India who have conducted reconnaissance of gatherings of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh at certain places, including Punjab, with an intention to target them and strike terror in a section of the people in India,” the report quoted Indian officials as saying. Nijjar wants the attack to be executed at a time and place where there is a huge gathering for maximum casualties, they added.

Indian authorities are suspicious that Nijjar is also associated with the Khalistan Tiger Force, and is involved in giving weapons training to Sikh youth in Vancouver.

In April, Canadian law authorities took Nijjar into custody and then released him 24 hours later. He was detained by the Surrey unit of the Royal Canadian Mounter Police (RCMP) in the afternoon of April 13 and was released the next day. No charges were filed against him.