Latest news with #SikhsForJustice
Global News
a day ago
- Politics
- Global News
How Indian intelligence officer allegedly recruited businessman to kill Canadian activist
Newly released court documents have detailed how a senior Indian intelligence officer allegedly recruited a businessman to assassinate a Canadian pro-Khalistan activist. The unsealed files said Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national suspected of drugs and weapons trafficking, had admitted he was asked at a meeting in New Delhi to conduct the killing. The target was Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a lawyer with Canadian and U.S. citizenship who heads Sikhs For Justice, a New York-based group that advocates for Khalistan. Pannun was a close associate of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was gunned down outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, B.C., on June 18, 2023 — a killing Canada has blamed on India. Both victims were involved in a symbolic referendum on Khalistan, the independent state they had campaigned to establish in what is now India's Sikh-majority Punjab. Story continues below advertisement India has long complained that supporters of the Khalistan movement operate in Canada. Meanwhile, Ottawa has accused India of violating Canada's sovereignty by conducting a killing on Canadian soil. Prime Minister Mark Carney invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the recent G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alta., but the dispute over New Delhi's alleged activities in Canada remains unresolved. View image in full screen Vikash Yadav, a.k.a Amanat, allegedly recruited Nikhil Gupta by offering to drop robbery charges he faced in India. U.S. District Court According to documents tabled in U.S. District Court, Gupta confessed his involvement in the plot to kill Pannun in a van after he was arrested at Prague airport on June 30, 2023. He said the conspiracy began when he returned home to India following a trip to Uzbekistan and was informed he was scheduled for a court appearance on robbery charges. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy He was then contacted by a man known as Amanat, who said he could clear Gupta's name. Story continues below advertisement 'Gupta and Amanat met in New Delhi, India shortly thereafter,' according to the summary of Gupta's statement. 'Amanat asked Gupta to have someone in New York City killed.' The U.S. has alleged that Amanat is Vikash Yadav, who works for the Research and Analysis Wing, the intelligence agency that reports to the office of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Yadav allegedly gave Gupta Pannun's residential addresses, phone numbers, and other information, and arranged for an associate to deliver $15,000 in cash to pay for the murder. After Gupta agreed to the killing, Yadav allegedly told him the charges had 'been taken care of' and 'nobody will ever bother you again,' according to the U.S. allegations. Gupta allegedly hired a hitman he thought was a Colombian cocaine supplier but who was actually a confidential source working for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the records show. Gupta is accused of offering the DEA source $100,000 to kill Pannun, and discussing additional murders in Canada. The plot was still in the planning stages when Nijjar was killed. View image in full screen Nikhil Gupta cooperated with U.S. investigators following his arrest in Prague. U.S. District Court The day after Nijjar's murder, Gupta showed an undercover agent a video of the slaying and identified the victim as the Canadian target he had previously mentioned, according to the court documents. Story continues below advertisement 'This strongly suggests that Gupta and/or persons working with Gupta were responsible for the associate's murder,' the U.S. Justice Department wrote in its summary of the investigation. On June 19, 2023, Gupta told the undercover agent that Pannun's murder 'should be carried out as soon as possible, without regard to collateral consequences such as potential harm to civilian bystanders or any resulting protests or political upheaval,' according to the records. 'Gupta told the undercover agent, in sum and substance, that after he (the undercover agent) kills the intended victim, Gupta planned to direct the undercover agent to kill additional targets, at least some of whom are in Canada.' But the plans went awry when Czech police arrested Gupta at Prague airport. A description of his arrest released in court stated that Gupta was cooperative and provided Amanat's contact information. View image in full screen Indian intelligence officer's contact information was allegedly found on Nikhil Gupta's phone, pictured. U.S. District Court 'The first thing that Gupta said was, in substance, 'I want to cooperate. Take me to America and I'll cooperate right now with you guys,'' according to a description of the arrest filed in court. Story continues below advertisement Gupta has been extradited to the U.S. to stand trial for the plot to kill Pannun. His lawyers want some of the evidence suppressed and one of the counts dropped. The U.S. also indicted Yadav, the Indian intelligence officer, for murder conspiracy. He has not been taken into custody and is on the FBI's most wanted list. The RCMP has not publicly disclosed who was behind Nijjar's murder, but has alleged that Indian government agents were involved. Four suspected hitmen were arrested in Alberta and Ontario last May. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service said in its annual report last week that foreign governments were increasingly using crime groups to carry out killings of dissidents and opponents. 'This is what India is doing now,' Pannun said an in interview on Friday. Using criminal networks allows the Indian government to put 'distance' between itself and killings, he said.
CTV News
17-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Sikh protests set to continue in Calgary as Indian PM Modi arrives for G7 summit
A crowd gathers to protest the arrival of Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi at the G7 summit, in Calgary, on Monday, June 16, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson CALGARY — Some Sikhs say they plan to continue protests in Calgary on Tuesday, condemning Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he visits the G7 leaders' summit. The advocacy group Sikhs for Justice had already held a day of protests Monday when Modi landed at the Calgary airport in the evening then made his way to the summit in the nearby wilderness retreat of Kananaskis. The protest in downtown Calgary included posters of the leader handcuffed, in a prison jumpsuit and another depicting him behind bars. Activists have long been advocating for an independent Sikh state in India, known as Khalistan. It has presented a challenge to Modi's government that resulted in tensions between Canada – and its large Sikh community — and India. Last fall, the RCMP accused Modi's government of having a role in murder, coercion and extortion in Canada. In 2023, then prime minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian government agents of being involved in the killing of Sikh separation activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C. There has been outrage since Prime Minister Mark Carney invited Modi as a guest at the G7 gathering. The federal NDP and some members of Carney's caucus have raised concerns about the invite. However, Modi has been at several recent G7 summits. Bakshish Singh Sandhu, co-founder of Sikhs for Justice, said he's grateful to Carney for bringing Modi to Canada, 'so he can be exposed and held responsible.' Canada is hosting leaders from the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Italy and the European Union. Leaders from several non-member countries, including Modi, have also been invited. Other groups have held protests in Calgary and Banff, including environmental activists, those upset about the war between Israel and Palestine and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also attending the summit. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2025. Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press
CTV News
16-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Downtown Calgary demonstrations limited as G7 begins in Kananaskis
Advocacy group Sikhs for Justice protesting in Calgary on June 16, 2025. (CTV News) It was a quieter day of protests in Calgary as the G7 officially got underway just 80 kilometres west. Only one group of about 75 people demonstrated in the city's municipal plaza. That's a stark contrast to the hundreds of people in at least six groups that were there Sunday. As of 2 p.m., no one was using the other demonstration zone along Macleod Trail. Multiple downtown workers CTV News talked to said they didn't really notice any sort of disruption with one of the world's largest political events in the province. That may be because many companies told staff to stay home and do their jobs remotely as the Kananaskis summit takes place. Sikhs for Justice Advocacy group Sikhs for Justice was the largest, and loudest, protest Monday. Protesters wanted to make their voice heard in support of Khalistan, a proposed independent Sikh state in India. They're against the G7 invite given to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 'Under his government, there's a serious threat to the Sikhs,' Bakhshish Sandhu, the group's leader and a Philadelphian, said. 'We want the G7 and Prime Minister Mark Carney to hold India responsible for transnational assassination and repression, which we think is a direct attack on Canadian sovereignty and security. 'It must stop.' Relations between the two countries have been rocky since Mounties accused Indian agents of killing Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Khalistani separatist. The shooting happened in B.C. in 2023. 'We understand that international trade is important, but equally important are human rights and a right to self-determination,' Sandhu said. The protest — and any other happening over the next 36 hours — will be broadcast live for the leaders in Kananaskis. RCMP representatives say keeping the protesters in designated zones means added safety and minimal disruption to critical infrastructure.
News18
12-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
Anti-India, Anti-Modi Canada Protests Driven By ISI-Backed SFJ, Other Groups: Sources
Last Updated: The Khalistani presence in Canada is a complex issue, raising concerns about radicalisation, terrorism, and diplomatic tensions between India and Canada Anti-India and anti-Modi protests in Canada are being driven by the ISI-backed Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and other radical groups, top intelligence sources have told CNN-News18. Funds from drug and illegal weapons supplies fuel these protests, they said. Divisions have emerged within gurdwaras following the previous Justin Trudeau government's stance on the Khalistan issue, they added. Most Sikhs oppose unnecessary community conflict under ISI influence, said the sources. 'The G7 countries are keen to engage with India on business and trade, but Pakistani terror groups create obstacles. Former Trudeau government ministers, such as Sukh Dhaliwal, have been sidelined due to past activities. Canada has become a haven for gangsters and Pakistan-backed Khalistani groups, sheltering banned terror groups from India and showing no cooperation in investigating Khalistani crimes," a source said. Khalistani groups in Canada 1. International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) 2. Babbar Khalsa 3. Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) 4. Sikh For Justice (SFJ) 5. Dal Khalsa Terrorists in Canada 1. Hardeep Singh Nijjar (deceased) Radicalisation hubs 1. Surrey, British Columbia 2. Brampton, Ontario 3. Toronto, Ontario 4. Montreal, Quebec Indian concerns referred to Canadian government 1. Terrorist financing 2. Radicalisation of youth 3. Hate speech and incitement 4. Violence and intimidation Numerous letters rogatory (LRs) and deportation requests remain pending with Canadian authorities, without response, the sources said. On June 4, 2023, a tableau depicting the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards was paraded through Brampton, Canada. It was organised by Khalistani groups to mark the thirty-ninth anniversary of Operation Bluestar. The Indian government strongly condemned this display, labelling it vote bank politics. Khalistani elements in Canada are not confined to protests; they also engage in physical assaults and violence, with many cases awaiting investigation by Indian federal agencies. Accused individuals linked to the Khalistan movement allegedly orchestrate killings and terror activities in Punjab and other parts of India, collaborating with gangsters in Delhi and Punjab jails. Several extradition and deportation requests from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for terrorists and pro-Khalistan elements remain pending with the Canadian government. These accused are wanted for terrorism, murder, and other offences. Key requests include Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) member Lakhbir Singh Sandhu, alias Landa, with a Rs 15 lakh reward for information leading to his capture. Landa's associate was arrested for a rocket-propelled grenade attack on the Punjab police intelligence headquarters in Mohali in May 2022. Landa's aide, Arshdeep Singh Gill, alias Arsh Dalla, based in Canada and linked to the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), was designated an individual terrorist by the ministry of home affairs on January 9, 2023. In February, the NIA arrested six individuals connected to the terrorist-gangster-drug smuggler nexus, including Dalla's associate, Lucky Khokhar, who provided arms to Dalla's men in Punjab for a killing in Jagraon in January. Another wanted individual is Canada-based Satwinderjeet Singh, alias Goldy Brar, accused of killing Pradeep Kumar, a Dera Sacha Sauda follower, in Faridkot in November 2022. He is also implicated in the 2022 murder of singer Sidhu Moose Wala, who had returned to India for the Punjab state elections. 'No action is being taken against individuals like SFJ's US-based chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who incites communal disharmony on social media. He was booked by the NIA in December 2020, along with Nijjar and Paramjit Singh Pamma, who resides in the UK," a source said. 'The Canadian government is providing a platform for extremists, separatists, and those advocating violence. It must recognise its responsibility to ensure the safety and security of its citizens, both domestically and internationally, and take the threat of Khalistani extremism seriously through concrete action." Multiple attacks on Indian temples have occurred, but Canada's commitment to Hindus remains unclear, said sources. The Khalistani presence in Canada is a complex issue, raising concerns about radicalisation, terrorism, and diplomatic tensions between India and Canada. About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 First Published: June 13, 2025, 02:15 IST
Hindustan Times
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ambedkar's statue ‘vandalised' in Hoshiarpur; SFJ's Pannun booked
A first information report (FIR) was registered against unknown persons after a statue of Dr BR Ambedkar was allegedly found vandalised on Tuesday. The statue was installed on top of a private building in Noorpur Jattan village in Garhshankar sub-division. Pro-Khalistan leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of the banned outfit 'Sikhs For Justice' (SFJ) has claimed responsibility for the statue vandalism on social media. Village sarpanch Shingara Ram denied any such incident, stating that marks on the statue's hands were old, but Bahujan Samaj Party and Ambedkar Sena of India leaders took a serious note of it and demanded strict action against the accused. BSP leaders have even threatened to start an agitation if the culprits are not arrested within a week. The FIR has been lodged on the complaint of Ambedkar Sena general secretary Kulwant Singh Bhuno who said that he came to know about the vandalism through a video which is circulating on social media. The video shows a hand cutter being used to damage the statue's hand but the sarpanch said that there was no electricity connection in the vicinity. He said he had spoken to the NRI son of the deceased land owner at whose building the statue was installed and he had confirmed that the damage was old. The sarpanch said the panchayat was planning to shift the statue to a Valmiki Temple in Mahilpur. Meanwhile, Hoshiarpur superintendent of police (investigation) Dr Mukesh Kumar said an FIR under sections 298 (injuring or defiling a place of worship) and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has been registered at Mahilpur Police Station against Pannun and some unidentified persons. Garhshankar deputy superintendent of police Jaspreet Singh said that the statue had been cordoned off and the police were examining the video. Garhshankar MLA Jai Kishan Singh Rori also visited the site and condemned the incident. BSP state president Avtar Singh Karimpuri has demanded an inquiry into the matter and said if the culprits were not arrested within a week, his party would hold a protest in Garhshankar.
