VANCOUVER (TIP): Four Indian nationals accused in the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar are currently subject to mandatory detention orders issued by a British Columbia court.

“The court imposed mandatory detention orders on all four accused. They remain in custody and no bail hearings are scheduled,” confirmed Ann Seymour, Acting Communications Counsel for the BC Prosecution Service, which operates under the Ministry of Attorney General.

In response to some online reports suggesting that four Indian nationals had been released, Seymour clarified on Thursday, January 9, that they remain in custody.

Though court records marked the custody status of the accused as ‘N’, indicating they were not detained and sparking reports of their release, the official, Seymour, confirmed that they remain in custody under detention orders.

The accused in the case have been identified as Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh, Karanpreet Singh, and Amandeep Singh. The detention orders mean that they will stay in custody until their trial begins. However, a judge may review a bail application at a later date, though bail is unlikely due to the serious charges they face, including first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Nijjar was killed on June 18, 2023, in Surrey, British Columbia. Three months later, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated in the House of Commons that there was “credible evidence” suggesting a potential link between Indian agents and Nijjar’s murder. India had dismissed these charges as “absurd” and “motivated.”

Karan, Kamalpreet and Karanpreet were arrested in and around Edmonton in May 2023. Amandeep was charged shortly after, while in the custody of Peel Regional Police (PRP), and was arrested in November 2023 on nine charges, including unauthorized possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance.
(Source: TNS)