New Delhi, September 20 (IANS). Following the brutal murder of popular Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala in May last year, security agencies, including the Special Cell of Delhi Police, have expressed concern over Canada emerging as a safe haven for Khalistani terrorists and gangsters involved in various crimes in India.
Sources said that gangsters living in Canada have a significant influence on criminal activities in India.
Recently at a public meeting in Ahmedabad, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had hinted at the possible detention of a “big gangster” in Canada, although this revelation remains unverified by central agencies.
Sources said that the person in question is none other than Satinderjit Singh, better known as Goldie Brar. He is the alleged mastermind of the murder of popular Punjabi singer Shubhadeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moosewala.
This case represents just one aspect of the relationship between criminal activities in Punjab and Canada.
Apart from the Moosewala murder, it appears that Canada-based Punjabi gangsters may have a hand in the daring RPG attack on the Punjab Police intelligence headquarters in Mohali in 2022.
During Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to Amritsar in 2018, then Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had reportedly raised concerns over how the Canadian territory was being exploited against India’s interests.
However, no concrete action was taken by the Canadian government in response to these concerns.
Several months ago, the Punjab Police had identified seven gangsters who had been operating from Canada for a long time.
The list includes Lakhbir Singh alias Landa, Goldie Brar, Charanjit Singh alias Rinku Randhawa, Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala, Ramandeep Singh alias Raman Judge, Gurpinder Singh alias Baba Dalla and Sukhdul Singh alias Sukha Duneke.
These people are believed to be associated with various criminal activities in Punjab.
Additionally, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to the capture of Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen who was shot dead in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18. Reward was announced.
He was earlier designated as a terrorist by the Government of India due to his involvement in pro-Khalistan activities.
Banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannu also lives in Canada and actively promotes the movement against India.
Recently, two people from Punjab were arrested for defacing the walls of five metro stations in Delhi with pro-Khalistani messages.
The accused, identified as Pritpal Singh alias Kaka (30) and his associate Rajvinder alias Kale, who were associated with SFJ, were promised $7,000 by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun for the job.
The walls of Shivaji Park, Madipur, Paschim Vihar, Udyog Nagar and Maharaja Surajmal Stadium metro stations were defaced with slogans “Delhi Banega Khalistan” and “Khalistan Zindabad”. The wall of a government school in Nangloi was also damaged.
A video released by SFJ reportedly shows damaged walls of a metro station.
In the video, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun can be heard saying: “During the G20 summit in Delhi on September 10, we will organize the Khalistan referendum in Canada.”
Security agencies also suspect SFJ members of supporting gangsters engaged in illegal activities across the country.
“Most gangsters move to Canada after committing heinous crimes because they get support from SFJ links,” said a former policeman, requesting anonymity. From there and with the support of SFJ links, they operate the entire nexus, including the drugs trade, extortion and money laundering. Without the support of SFJ, this is not possible.”
Sources said India has submitted several documents to Canadian authorities demanding immediate deportation of individuals associated with separatist organizations and terrorist groups.
“Regrettably, these deportation requests were ignored and Canada has become a base for at least nine separatist organizations linked to terrorist activities,” the source said.
Those seeking asylum in Canada include eight people known to be involved in terrorist acts, as well as an equal number of gangsters who have been accused of conspiring with Pakistan’s ISI.
What is shocking is that these individuals, including Gurwant Singh Pannun, who had a history of involvement in terrorist activities in the early 1990s, had deportation requests pending with the Canadian authorities for a long time.
“No action has been taken on the extradition request of individuals like Gurpreet Singh, who is also implicated in terror cases and is linked to his Canadian address,” the source said.
–IANS
SGK
