Amidst tension, India included a person associated with Canada Border Police in the list of fugitive terrorists.

New Delhi: There is a diplomatic dispute going on between India and Canada over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Recently, Canada had made serious allegations against the High Commissioner of India, after which India showed the door to Canadian diplomats and also called back its High Commissioner. Amidst this controversy, there is news that India has declared Sandeep Singh Sidhu, an officer of the Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA), as a wanted terrorist and has demanded to bring him/her back.

What is the diplomatic dispute between Canada and India?

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police this week alleged that Indian diplomats were targeting Sikh separatists in Canada. They allege that they are being targeted by sharing information about them with the Indian government. According to him/her, top Indian officials are passing on information to crime groups that Canadian citizens are targeting these activists for drive-by shooting, extortion and even murder. On the other hand, India has rejected Canada’s allegations as absurd. The Foreign Ministry retaliated by expelling Canada’s acting high commissioner and five other diplomats from the country.

Who is CBSA’s Sandeep Singh Sidhu?

According to a report in Times Now, Sandeep Singh Sidhu is a CBSA employee and a member of the banned organization International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). he/she is accused of promoting terrorist activities in Punjab. It is being said that Sandeep Singh Sidhu had links with Pakistan-based Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh Rode and other ISI operatives. It is believed that he/she had a role in the murder of Balwinder Singh Sandhu in 2020.

Is Sandeep Singh Sidhu only Sunny Toronto?

Balwinder Singh Sandhu was awarded the Shaurya Chakra Award. he/she was prominent for his/her efforts against Khalistani terrorists during the Punjab insurgency and for his/her opposition to the Khalistan referendum led by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) in the US and Canada. According to the report, Sandeep Singh Sidhu was promoted to the post of Superintendent in CBSA. The NIA claims that Khalistani operatives from Canada, including Sunny Toronto and Pakistan-based terrorist Lakhbir Singh Rode, had planned Sandhu’s murder. It is still not clear whether Sunny Toronto is another name for Sandeep Singh Sidhu.

This report comes after a press conference held last week by External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, in which he/she said that India had sought the extradition of about 26 accused from Canada, which was not heeded by the Canadian authorities. he/she said, ‘We had shared security related information about the gang members, including the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, with the Canadian government and requested them to arrest them (criminals)… So far, on our request the Canadian side No action has been taken.