No request for consular access, says MEA as Canada arrests fourth Indian over Nijjar killing

The fourth Indian detained by Canada for his role in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an Indian terrorist, has been reported to have been seen in India, according to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday.

Speaking during a press conference, Jaiswal noted that Canada has not formally conveyed about the arrest and India has not yet received any consular access request.

On being asked about the fourth Indian arrested by Canada in the Nijjar killing, Jaiswal stated, “We have seen reports of the fourth person being arrested. We have not been formally conveyed of it. So far, we have not received any consular access request as well."

According to CBC News, a Canadian news outlet, Canadian police announced last week that they had detained a fourth person in connection with the death of designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

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In June of last year, Hardeep Singh Nijjar—whom India’s National Investigation Agency classified as a terrorist in 2020—was shot and killed as he exited a Gurdwara in Surrey. It was said that the attack, which featured two vehicles and six people, was “very coordinated”.

Amandeep Singh (22) has been recognized as the accused. In British Columbia, Singh was already under the custody of Peel Regional Police in Ontario due to unrelated gun charges, according to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT).

“IHIT pursued the evidence and gained sufficient information for the BC Prosecution Service to charge Amandeep Singh with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder,” the police statement said.

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According to the police, Singh is an Indian national who divides his time between Surrey, British Columbia; Abbotsford, British Columbia; and Brampton, Ontario, as reported by CBC News. Citing continuing investigations and legal procedures, investigators have not disclosed any other information regarding the arrest.

This occurs a few days after three Indian nationals, Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karanpreet Singh, were taken into custody by Canadian police in Edmonton. In connection with the homicide, the three were charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Notably, contrary to rumors in the Canadian media, the Canadian authorities have not provided any proof of a connection to India.

After Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed India had a role in Nijjar’s death, there were diplomatic tense moments between the two countries. New Delhi, however, dismissed the claim, labelling it “absurd” and “motivated.”

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reaffirmed last week that no “formal communication” regarding the arrests of three Indians who are allegedly involved in the matter has been sent to India, nor has Canada offered any “specific” evidence or pertinent information in the Hardeep Singh Nijjar killing case.

“No specific or relevant evidence or information has been given to us in this matter. Canada has informed us about the arrest. But we have not got any formal communication,” MEA Spokesperson Jaiswal said on three Indians were arrested in Canada in Nijjar’s killing.

When asked whether India had granted consular access to the three Indians detained in connection with the Nijjar homicide case, the MEA responded that the Indian government had not received a request for the same from Canada because the accused had not yet requested consular access.