Canada evacuates most of its diplomats from India amid New Delhi's Oct 10 deadline

Canada has evacuated most of its diplomats from India to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore after New Delhi told Ottawa to remove dozens of diplomats by October 10, it was reported on Friday.

The Indian directive came in wake of a sharp deterioration in India-Canada ties following the killing of a Sikh separatist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Canada for which Ottawa said it suspected Indian agents.

"A majority of the Canadian diplomats working in India outside of Delhi have been evacuated to either Kuala Lumpur or Singapore," CTV News of Canada said.

India had asked Canada to withdraw several dozen diplomats from its missions to bring parity in diplomatic strength between the two countries. New Delhi had said that excess diplomats who remain in India beyond that date will lose their diplomatic immunity.

Earlier, reports pegged the number of diplomats that would have to leave India at 41 but the sources CTV News spoke with said this was specific to one of parity.

New Delhi rejected as "absurd" allegations of involvement in the killing of Nijjar, who was wanted for terrorist crimes in India.

Global Affairs Canada, which manages the country's diplomatic and consular relations, had earlier said it was assessing its staff complement in India due to threats made to Canadian diplomats following the row.

India on Thursday alleged that some Canadian diplomats were involved in interfering in New Delhi's internal matters.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said earlier that India will not review its position on the issue. "Our focus is on ensuring parity in diplomatic strength," he said.

(With agency inputs)