Rally held outside India consulate in wake of Surrey gurdwara murder | 24CA News
Hundreds gathered exterior of the Consulate General of India workplace in Vancouver Saturday for a rally.
Sikh protesters and activists stated they’ve gathered to boost considerations that the Indian authorities is behind the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Nijjar was the president of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey when he was shot and killed within the car parking zone on the night of June 18, six days in the past.
“This act of violence was predictable and was foreseen. It is unacceptable for us,” Jatinder Singh Grewal stated, a Sikhs for Justice director.
Homicide investigators consider the capturing was focused.
When it involves proof to again the activist’s claims, Grewal stated, “Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a close friend of mine. A week before his (murder)… he advised me that the RCMP and CSIS had advised him about the threat to his life.”
“He advised me, quite clearly, that he had no enemies, he had no disputes or quarrels with anybody else other than his activities for Khalistan. India labeled (him) a terrorist in India, yet presented no evidence to the Canadians that would warrant his extradition. Based on all the circumstantial evidence — it is clear to us who is responsible.”
Global News has reached out to the Consulate General of India in Vancouver for remark, however didn’t obtain a response earlier than publication.
On Monday, Global News spoke with Gurpreet Singh, a radio host with Burnaby’s Spice Radio 1200 AM, who interviewed Nijjar final month. He stated Nijjar had been “very vocal” about threats that have been being made to him “discreetly.”
“What makes it worse is that he’d been saying publicly he was on a list. We know that law enforcement and CSIS both knew about this hit list and had been in touch with Nijjar for at least a year,” he informed Global News. “Enough clearly wasn’t done to save his life.”
According to an Indian media report in 2016, Nijjar was accused of operating a terror coaching camp in Mission to probably perform assaults in Punjab. RCMP has stated there was no info on the time substantiating any of these claims.
In 2018, India filed a First Information Report in opposition to Nijjar, whom it accuses of plotting to hold out a serious terrorist assault in Punjab.
Nijjar has repeatedly claimed his innocence and penned a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calling allegations “factually baseless and fabricated.” He beforehand admitted to talking out in favour of Sikh separatism however denied being concerned in any acts of violence.
Homicide investigators are looking for two suspects within the high-profile killing.
Police stated Wednesday that two suspects, “described as heavier-set males wearing face coverings,” fled the scene on foot southbound on 122nd Street by means of Cougar Creek Park.
“It’s believed that the suspects may have had a vehicle waiting for them in the area of 121st Street and 68th Avenue,” stated Sgt. Timothy Pierotti of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT). “It’s believed that the suspects and their vehicle may have been in that area for at least an hour prior to the homicide.”
While no arrests have been made, he tried to assuage public security considerations within the aftermath of the killing, significantly among the many Sikh group in Surrey.
“We have no reason to believe that the Sikh community is at risk,” he stated. “This was a targeted incident where one person was the target.”
Few different particulars have been launched Wednesday, however investigators renewed a name for witnesses and dashcam footage, significantly from automobiles stationed within the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara car parking zone.
IHIT wouldn’t verify or deny that Nijjar had been threatened previous to his dying, however reaffirmed Wednesday it could examine the experiences, leveraging its relationship with different intelligence and legislation enforcement companies if wanted.
The day after the capturing, the World Sikh Organization of Canada referred to as on Canadian intelligence and legislation enforcement to completely examine Nijjar’s killing, together with international interference, “specifically from India.”
“I would suggest that the police are probably doing all they can to find out who pulled the trigger,” stated Balpreet Singh, authorized counsel for the World Sikh Organization. “But really, the question that we have is who ordered the hits?”
“I think that’s where you have a president of a gurdwara shot on his own premises, that’s sending a message,” stated Singh, authorized counsel, in an interview. “I would say there’s definitely apprehension in the Sikh community on whose next.”
IHIT is asking anybody with info, or anybody with dash-camera video who was within the space of 122 Street, within the car parking zone of the Gurdwara or within the space of 121 Street and 68 Avenue, between 6 p.m. and eight:45 p.m. on June 18 to contact its info line at 1-877-551-IHIT
Anyone in want of confidential, non-judgmental, 24/7 psychological well being help can contact Crisis Centre BC at 1-784-2433. Emotional help and data on psychological well being sources are additionally obtainable at 310-6789, no space code is required.
— With recordsdata from Global BC’s Elizabeth McSheffery
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
