Canada expels 6 Indian diplomats, claims they were collecting info for agents

Canada has expelled six Indian diplomats in relation to what it termed “a targeted campaign against Canadian citizens by agents linked to the Government of India”.

The development came on a day India expelled six Canadian diplomats and announced withdrawing its High Commissioner from Canada after strongly dismissing Ottawa’s allegations linking the envoy to a probe into the killing of Sikh extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

“Ample, clear and concrete evidence”

“Keeping Canadians safe is the fundamental job of the Canadian government. The decision to expel these individuals was made with great consideration and only after the RCMP [Royal Canadian Mounted Police] gathered ample, clear and concrete evidence which identified six individuals as persons of interest in the Nijjar case,” Canada’s minister of foreign affairs Mélanie Joly said in a press release.

“We continue to ask that the Indian government support the ongoing investigation in the Nijjar case, as it remains in both our countries’ interest to get to the bottom of this,” the statement added.

Nijjar was gunned down in Surrey, British Columbia, in June last year. In May 2024, the RCMP’s Integrated Homicide Investigative Team and the Federal Policing Programme Pacific Region announced the arrests of four individuals for their alleged involvement in the killing of Nijjar.

India has been strongly rejecting Canada’s charge of involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar's killing.

Watch: Canada drags in India's top envoy in Nijjar killing | Diplomatic situation explained

“Targeted campaign against Canadian citizens”

In the press release, Global Affairs Canada announced that six Indian diplomats and consular officials “had received a notice of expulsion from Canada in relation to a targeted campaign against Canadian citizens by agents linked to the Government of India”.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) gathered information that established linkages between the investigation and agents of the Indian government. To further the investigation and allow the RCMP to interview relevant individuals, India was asked to waive diplomatic and consular immunities and to cooperate in the investigation, the statement said.

“Regrettably, as India did not agree and given the ongoing public safety concerns for Canadians, Canada served notices of expulsion to these individuals. Subsequent to those notices, India announced it would withdraw its officials,” it said.

RCMP warns of widespread violence

The RCMP, which has been investigating the murder, alleged on Monday (October 14) that Indian agents were using a wide variety of entities in Canada and abroad to collect information and then using the details to target members of the South Asian community.

Addressing a press conference, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme warned of widespread violence, homicides and a public security threat linked to “agents” of the Indian government.

“Investigations have revealed that Indian diplomats and consular officials based in Canada leveraged their official positions to engage in clandestine activities, such as collecting information for the government of India, either directly or through their proxies; and other individuals who acted voluntarily or through coercion,” the RCMP claimed in a statement.

“Some of these individuals and businesses were coerced and threatened into working for the government of India. The information collected for the Government of India is then used to target members of the South Asian community,” it said.

Also read: India summons Canadian diplomat after Ottawa's move against envoy

More than a dozen threats

Duheme said the RCMP has charged “a significant number” of people with direct involvement in homicides, extortions and other criminal acts of violence over the past few years and is aware of more than a dozen threats to members of the South Asian community and the pro-Khalistan movement, the Toronto Star newspaper reported.

“Despite law enforcement action, the harm has continued, posing a serious threat to our public safety,” the RCMP statement added.

The “evidence was presented directly to government of India officials, urging their cooperation in stemming the violence and requesting our law enforcement agencies work together to address these issues,” it said.

Quoting a government official, who was not authorised to discuss the matter on national security grounds, The Globe and Mail reported that the Canadian government presented the evidence to India last week and the Indian government staunchly denied the allegations.

Since the killing of Nijjar, a dozen people of Indian descent have been warned there was credible evidence that they could be targets of Indian agents, the official said.

Also read: Nijjar murder: India rebukes Trudeau over allegations, demands proof

India’s denial and counter-attack

The 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 Nijjar. New Delhi rejected Trudeau’s charges as “absurd”. India has been maintaining that the main issue has been that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistani elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity.

Joly’s press statement said, “Canada and India have over 75 years of diplomatic relations. Our countries share important historic, business and people-to-people ties. Canada took this decision as its main interest remains the safety and security of all Canadians, defending our sovereignty and upholding the rule of law. Canada will continue to work diligently to do everything it can to keep Canadians safe now, and into the future. Dialogue with India continues through our High Commission in Delhi.”

Hours earlier, India announced withdrawing its high commissioner and other “targeted diplomats and officials” from Canada after strongly dismissing Ottawa’s allegations linking the envoy to an investigation into the killing of Nijjar.

(With agency inputs)