“Ready to investigate”: External Affairs Minister Jaishankar denies finding evidence of Indian involvement in Canada’s Nijjar murder case

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has once again denied finding any evidence of involvement of Indian citizens in the killing of India-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

He emphasized that although the arrest of any Indian national usually leads to information being sent to the government or embassy, ​​no specific evidence has been received to date to justify investigation by Indian agencies.

“But till date, we have not found anything that is specific and worthy of being investigated by our investigating agencies. And I am not aware of any change in this regard in the last few days,” the External Affairs Minister said while speaking to the media at a seminar on the Indian Capital Market ‘Roadmap for a Developed India’ at the National Stock Exchange (NSE). Mumbai on Monday.

Canadian police arrested a fourth suspect on Saturday for alleged involvement in Nijjar’s murder, Canada-based CBC News reported.

Nijjar was murdered outside a gurudwara in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18. The accused has been identified as Amandeep Singh (22).

According to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) in British Columbia, Singh was already in the custody of Peel Regional Police in Ontario for unrelated firearms charges.

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

Police said Singh is an Indian national who spends his time in Brampton, Ontario, Canada; Surrey, British Columbia and Abbotsford, British Columbia, CBC News reports. Investigators have not released any further details of the arrest, citing the ongoing investigation and court processes.

This comes days after Canadian police arrested three Indian nationals – Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh and Karanpreet Singh – in Edmonton. All three were charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the murder.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was designated a terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency in 2020, was shot dead as he left a gurudwara in Surrey in June last year. The attack was described as ‘highly coordinated’ and involved six people and two vehicles. Notably, Canadian police have provided no evidence of any connection to India, as was being speculated in the Canadian media.

Nijjar’s murder led to diplomatic tensions between Canada and India after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of having a hand in the murder – a claim that New Delhi has rejected, calling it “absurd” and “motivated”. ” Said.

Earlier this week, the Ministry of External Affairs reiterated that Canada has not provided any “specific” evidence or relevant information in the Hardeep Singh Nijjar murder case and has not provided any “formal communication” to India on the arrest of the three Indians allegedly involved. Has gone. In this case, we have not been given any specific or relevant evidence or information. Canada has informed us about the arrest. But we have not received any formal communication…” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said on the arrest of three Indians in Canada in the Nijjar murder case.

Asked whether India has granted consular access to the three Indians arrested in the Nijjar murder case, the Ministry of External Affairs said they have not received any request for the same from the Canadian side as the accused have not yet sought consular access. .