How Canada-based terrorists lure Indian youth

Indian intelligence sources have uncovered a web of covert activities orchestrated by pro-Khalistan elements in Canada, aimed at enticing vulnerable Indian youths. Operating under the radar, these individuals, including the deceased terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, have been actively sponsoring visas for young Punjabis, luring them with promises of employment and religious roles in gurdwaras under their control. Additionally, political asylum schemes and the exploitation of freedom of expression have been leveraged to further their separatist agenda on Canadian soil. This sheds light on the intricate network that has allowed these elements to evade scrutiny and fuel anti-India sentiment, even as their influence extends to gurdwaras across the nation. Offering Visas and Jobs Canadian-based pro-Khalistan figures like Hardeep Singh Nijjar have been luring young individuals from Punjab, India, by sponsoring visas for various jobs, including religious roles in gurdwaras under their control. They also provide shelter and low-paying jobs using gurdwara resources to sustain illegal immigrants and Indian students, according to Indian intelligence sources. Exploiting Indebted Youths Many of these young people, referred to as “indebted” youths, are initially brought in for jobs like plumbing or truck driving, or to serve as sewadars, pathis, and ragis in gurdwaras across Surrey, Brampton, Edmonton, and other locations controlled by pro-Khalistan elements. Once in Canada, they become entangled in the separatist movement, participating in anti-India protests and radical-religious gatherings, as reported by an Intel Intelligence officer. Political Advocacy garb The Shiromani Akali Dal-Amritsar, a political party in Punjab, is alleged to charge Rs 1-2 lakh to issue a “letter” to young individuals, falsely claiming they face persecution in India based on religious grounds. These youths are subsequently recruited for pro-Khalistan activities after arriving in Canada. Pro-Khalistan groups in Canada, including figures like Nijjar, Bual, and Bhagat Singh Brar, have concealed their separatist and terrorist activities under the guise of “freedom of expression” and “political advocacy” for five decades. This strategy has allowed them to operate freely on Canadian soil. Canadian authorities’ leniency towards pro-Khalistani elements has bolstered their influence in gurdwaras across the country, enabling them to intimidate Hindu members of the Indian diaspora and even threaten to deface their temples. These pro-Khalistani elements have utilized their “foot soldiers” to garner support for the ‘Khalistan Referendum’ campaign led by Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). Moreover, they have forged alliances with gangsters in Punjab and brought them to Canada, diverting their activities from Punjab to avoid terror attacks. Canada’s Historic Tolerance Canadian agencies’ historic indifference towards Khalistani extremists has allowed them to evade accountability for their actions. Notably, the 1985 Kanishka bombing, orchestrated by Khalistani extremists, went largely unpunished due to this lax approach. Talwinder Singh Parmar, one of the accused, is now celebrated as a hero among Khalistanis in Canada, with SFJ naming its campaign center after him. Links to Punjab Terror Canada-based Khalistani extremists have been linked to more than half of the terror cases reported in Punjab. Investigations have also linked Nijjar and his associates to multiple targeted killings of Sikhs, Hindus, and Christians in Punjab since 2016. Surprisingly, Canadian agencies have yet to initiate inquiries against Nijjar and his associates, such as Bhagat Singh Brar, Parry Dulai, Arsh Dalla, and Lakbir Landa. Drug Funding Canada-based gangsters play a role in smuggling drugs from Pakistan into Punjab and use the proceeds to fund Khalistani activities. Inter-gang rivalries among Punjabi gangsters in Canada have become common. In 2022, the suspected involvement of Nijjar in the killing of pro-India Sikh leader Ripudaman Singh Malik in Surrey raised suspicions. However, Canadian agencies only charged two local criminals, who were not of Indian origin, in the case. According to an Indian intelligence officer, the human trafficking channel operated in plain sight by Canadian agencies aims to compensate for the lack of support for the Khalistani cause among Sikhs residing in Canada.