Canada spy chief made two secret visits to India in 2024 over Hardeep Singh Nijjar case

Canada’s intelligence agency chief, David Vigneault, made two secretive trips to India earlier this year to discuss the case of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing. These visits occurred in February and March, preceding the arrest of four Indian nationals in connection with the case. Sources indicate that other Canadian officials also visited India to discuss various aspects of the Nijjar case, according to news agency PTI.

The Indian government has refrained from commenting on Vigneault’s visits, according the news agency.

A Canadian government official confirmed that the Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), David Vigneault, visited India but refrained from discussing the specifics of the meetings.

“We can confirm that the Director of CSIS, David Vigneault, has travelled to India, but we do not comment on the nature or substance of closed-door meetings,” the official stated, reported PTI.

Vigneault shared information from Ottawa’s investigation into Nijjar’s death during those visits. The investigation was prompted by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations last September of potential Indian involvement in Nijjar’s murder — a claim New Delhi vehemently denied as “absurd”.

It came to light in May that Canada had arrested four Indians — Karanpreet Singh (28), Kamalpreet Singh (22), and Karan Brar (22) — in the Nijjar-killing case. As the investigation progressed, the Canadian government arrested Amandeep Singh, the fourth person accused in the murder case of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, designated a terrorist by India, was fatally shot outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is leading the investigation.

While Canada asserts its commitment to truth and accountability, emphasising the importance of an independent RCMP investigation, the Indian government has refrained from commenting on Vigneault’s visits, according to PTI.

Sources indicate that other Canadian officials also visited India to discuss various aspects of the Nijjar case.

Tensions between the two countries have escalated due to India’s concerns about Canada’s handling of Khalistani elements.

Additionally, the Canadian government, in its special parliamentary report, claims that India is the second-biggest threat to its democracy after China.

India has urged Ottawa to safeguard its diplomats following threats from Khalistani groups.

In response to Trudeau’s allegations, India demanded a reduction in Canada’s diplomatic presence, prompting the withdrawal of 41 Canadian diplomats and their family members from India.