India
Khalistani terrorist Arsh Dalla arrested in Canada; second Nijjar aide detained last week: Reports – Times of India
Dalla, one of India’s most wanted criminal and a close aide of slain Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjarwas arrested for his suspected involvement in an Oct. 28 shootout in the city of Milton, the reports said, citing intelligence sources.
In September this year, Dalla took responsibility for the murder of Congress leader Baljinder Singh Balli, who was shot dead at his residence in Moga district of Punjab.
Earlier in the day, Punjab police arrested two key figures from Dalla in connection with the murder of Sikh activist Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau in Faridkot district last month. The arrests were made during a joint operation by Mohali state special operations cell, Anti-Gangster Task Force and Faridkot police.
Investigations revealed that the two arrested officers were also involved in the murder of Jaswant Singh Gill, a man serving a life sentence in a 2016 murder case. Gill was shot dead on November 7, 2024 in Gwalior district, Madhya Pradesh, on instructions by Arsh Dalla.
Second Nijjar assistant is arrested
Dalla is the second close associate of Nijjar arrested by Canadian authorities in the past week.
On Nov. 8, Canadian police arrested a 35-year-old Brampton resident, Inderjeet Gosal, on charges of assault with a weapon during a violent demonstration at a Hindu temple in the city, authorities said.
Gosal is the Sikhs for Justice coordinator for Canada, Toronto Star reported. The US-based SFJ is banned in India.
Gosal replaced Nijjar as the lead Canadian organizer of the Sikhs for Justice after the latter was shot in British Columbia in June 2023. He is believed to be the lieutenant of SJF’s general counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is labeled a terrorist by India.
Gosal was released on conditions and will appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton at a later date.
Relations between India and Canada came under severe strain following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations in September last year of a “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
New Delhi dismissed Trudeau’s allegations as “absurd”.
India has maintained that the main issue between the two countries is that Canada should give space to pro-Khalistan elements operating with impunity from Canadian soil.
(With input from agencies)
