Gun attack on Khalistani sympathiser linked to Nijjar in California, another's house targeted in Surrey

Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s associate Satinder Pal Singh Raju, who was among the main organisers of the recently held so-called Khalistan Referendum in Calgary, was fired upon multiple times this month, the latest attack coming on him when he was travelling in a pick-up truck on a highway in California on August 11.

According to a Hindustan Times report, Raju was associated with the secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and its general counsel Gurpatwant Pannun described him as “close associate” of Nijjar and “an active organiser” of Khalistan Referendum.

Raju survived a deadly ambush when the truck he was travelling in was sprayed with bullets by the shooters, added the report, citing Pannun.

According to the Hindustan Times report, citing an incident report of the California Highway Patrol, there were reports of “4-5 shots” fired while the vehicle was in Woodland in Yolo county.

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The report cited Pannun, who claimed that following Nijjar’s killing in Surrey on June 18 last year, Raju stayed in the town until October. During that time, Raju played a key role in organising the 2023 referendum in Surrey and the one held in Calgary, Alberta, on July 28 this year.

Pannun has accused the Indian government of targeting Raju and using “transnational repression to violently suppress the global Khalistan Referendum campaign”, reported Hindustan Times.

Law enforcement has not announced any arrests or provided a motive related to the incident.

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In another incident on August 10, the residence of Raghbir Nijjar, former president of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurudwara that Nijjar led till the time of his death, was also fired upon in Surrey, British Columbia.

While the Surrey detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or RCMP reported that such an incident had taken place around 3:10 am, but it did not identify the owner of the residence, reported HT, citing a press release on August 13.

“Evidence consistent with a shooting was located at the scene along with evidence of an attempted arson," the release read.

The RCMP believes this incident may be connected to a series of extortion-related shootings targeting Indo-Canadian businesses and individuals over the past year.

According to the Hindustan Times, citing a person familiar with the incident, Raghbir Nijjar, who is from the same village as Hardeep Nijjar and is believed to be related to him, is seeking to become the president of the gurdwara again.

Hardeep Nijjar’s murder has strained relations between New Delhi and Ottawa.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement in the House of Commons three months later alleging a possible link between Indian agents and the killing was dismissed by India as “absurd” and “motivated.”

This year, Canadian investigators have arrested four Indian nationals in connection with the murder, though no evidence has yet been provided linking them to Indian agents, and this angle remains under investigation.

With inputs from agencies