Hardeep Singh Nijjar, head of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Sahib and chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force, was shot dead by two unidentified youths within the Gurdwara Sahib premises in Canada’s Surrey on Sunday evening.
Nijjar, 46, a native of Bhar Singh Pura village in Jalandhar, was known to be actively involved in operationalising, networking, training, and financing members of the Khalistan Tiger Force, according to the Union government. He was also accused in a case registered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). He was also associated with Sikh for Justice and recently went to Australia for the referendum voting.
During the investigation, it was discovered that Nijjar had made incriminating statements, posted objectionable content, and shared photos and videos on social media platforms to “spread insurrectionary imputations” through hateful speeches.
According to a document from the NIA, “The incriminating evidence thus gathered substantiates that he is involved in exhorting seditionary and insurrectionary imputations and also attempting to create disharmony among different communities in India.”
His name had been included in the wanted list handed over by the then-Punjab Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the latter’s visit to India in 2018.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was also facing charges in various cases registered and being investigated by the Punjab Police, leading to a red corner notice being issued against him.
According to a Punjab government order in 2020, a total of 11 kanal and 13.5 marlas of land belonging to Nijjar was seized in his native village, Bhar Singapura, in Phillaur subdivision of Jalandhar district. A villager mentioned that Hardeep’s family had migrated a long time ago, but his parents frequently visit the village and had last done so before the lockdown.
A panchayat member of the village shared that Hardeep’s father has four brothers, and together they own approximately 8 acres of land. Hardeep received a portion of land from his father’s unmarried uncle, who had given around 5.5 acres to Hardeep and his siblings.
The villagers said they hadn’t seen Hardeep in the village for several years.
