New Delhi: Long before the current diplomatic standoff between India and Canada over the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Indian agencies and the Punjab government had voiced their discontent with the lack of cooperation they receive from their Canadian counterparts in dealing with criminals who have gone into hiding in their country.
In 2018, during Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to India, then Chief Minister of Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh, had handed him a list of 10 fugitives evading justice. In a post on X Tuesday, the former CM wrote, “I had brought to the notice of Mr Justin Trudeau as to how the Canadian land was being used against India, still the Canadian govt failed to take any remedial measures so far (sic).”
Sikh terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed in June this year, was on this list.
ThePrint looks at the other names on the 2018 list.
Gurpreet Singh
Originally from Mogga district and currently living in Surrey, Western Canada, Gurpreet is with the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) and the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF).
He also works as an active operator for fresh modules for a separate Sikh state. According to reports, Gurpreet last visited his home state Punjab in 2016, where he allegedly inspired another person named Gurpreet Singh alias Peet to join his cause.
He also assured him financial assistance and provided funds to Gurjinder Singh Pannun, also on Amarinder’s list.
Gurpreet currently has an Interpol Red Corner Notice (RCN) issued against him and faces charges under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and The Arms Act.
Also read: Moose Wala ‘killer’, Babbar Khalsa militants — the ‘most-wanted’ men India wants Canada to turn in
Gurjinder Singh Pannun
Born in 1992 in Tarn Taran district, Pannun is an active member of the banned organisations Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and the ISYF. Like his accomplice Gurpreet Singh, Pannu, too, has an Interpol RCN against him. He allegedly recruited youths to carry out attacks in Punjab and, according to Interpol, is facing charges such as conspiracy, harbouring terrorists, for being a member of a terrorist organisation, raising funds for terrorist activities, under Arms act and for causing explosions endangering life or property.
He made it to Amarinder’s list in 2018 for his alleged role in the murder of a Right-wing leader in Punjab in 2016.
Gurjeet Singh Cheema
Along with Pannun, Cheema’s name was also included in the 2016 murder of the Right-wing leader. India’s National Investigation Agency, too, has filed several chargesheets in the case.
Cheema is now a Canadian national and lives in Brampton city. He is an active member of the Singh Khalsa Sewa Club and the banned ISYF. He is also facing charges in Punjab for allegedly recruiting youths to carry out targeted assassinations in the state.
There is no Interpol RCN against him.
Malkeet Singh
A member of the banned outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), Malkeet Singh goes by the name ‘fauji’. He is a resident of Surrey and faces charges such as “attempting to wage war or abetting the waging of war against the Government of India” as per the RCN issued against him. He is also accused of arranging funds for terrorist activities as well as unlawful assembly.
As per a chargesheet filed by the NIA against sympathisers of Sikh separatist movement for bringing out “concerted secessionist campaign” under the banner of ‘Referendum 2020’, Malkeet Singh was charged as one of the associates of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun,founder of the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and among the most vocal voices seeking a separate homeland for Sikh community.
Parvkar Singh Dulai
A resident of Vancouver, Dulai was placed on no-fly list in Canada in 2018 — the same year when his name featured on the list of wanted men by the Punjab government.
Along with him, Bhagat Singh Brar, also on Amarinder’s list of 10, was put on the no-fly list, too. The Canadian government considered them terrorism “facilitators”.
Later, they challenged the decision in a local court but the decision was upheld, according to a report by Canadian newspaper National Post.
Dulai allegedly orchestrated a parade in tribute to Talwinder Singh Parmar, an accused in the 1985 bombing of Air India flight 182 that killed 329 people onboard.
Bhagat Singh Brar
Brar is the son of Lakhbir Singh Rode, the founder of Pakistan-based Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), and the ISYF. Rode was a nephew of radical Sikh preacher Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and was also one of the accused chargesheeted by the NIA for his role in a blast at a court complex in Ludhiana in 2021.
Brar is based in Brampton and was put on no-fly list as Canadian authorities assessed that he was a “Khalistani extremist who has been engaged in [redacted] terrorist-related activities, particularly in fundraising in support of terrorist attacks overseas”, Global News reported, citing a note from the Canadian authorities accessed by them.
Sulinder Singh
A resident of Brampton, Sulinder Singh has been closely associated with Wadhawa Singh Babbar, the chief of the banned BKI. He was allegedly collecting funds for Wadhawa Singh to bring in more and more operatives under the umbrella of BKI, said media reports.
He is also an active member of the ISYF.
Tehal Singh
Singh comes from Jalandhar and is a resident of Brampton. He has been managing funds for Sikh separatist sympathisers and is a close associate of Sulinder Singh. He reportedly works in close coordination with some of the others on the list to carry out targeted killings and spread enmity in Punjab
Hardeep Sohota
Sohota lives in Surrey and is an active member of the Khalistan Commando Force. He has allegedly been involved in hatching plots to carry out targeted attacks on individuals in Punjab.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
Also read: A paper tiger? Why 1987 extradition treaty with Canada has brought back just 6 fugitives to India