Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Activist for few and Terrorist for many was a Khalistan movement leader in Canada who was shot and killed on June 18, 2023, outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a Khalistan Separatist Movement leader in Canada who was shot and killed on June 18, 2023, outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia. He was a vocal supporter of the Khalistan movement, which seeks to establish an independent Sikh state and break state of Punjab from India.
He was also the leader of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), a militant separatist group that has been designated as a terrorist organization by both India and Canada.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar Life: From India to Canada
Nijjar’s early life is not documented, but from records it is known that he was born in Bharsingh Pura village in Jalandhar district, Punjab, India in 1977.
He moved to Canada in 1997 under refugee status using fake passport and worked as a plumber on Canadian soil.
His refugee status was rejected several times to get the citizenship, he married a woman in Canada for sponsoring his immigration, which also was never approved. Nijjar had two sons.
He rose to prominence in Sikh community in Canada and got elected as president of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar: Indian Declared Terrorist
Nijjar’s path to became declared terrorist starts when he got involved in the Khalistan movement in the early 2000s.
He was a member of the Babbar Khalsa International, a militant separatist group, but later formed his own organization, the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF).
The KTF was designated as a terrorist organization by India and Canada in 2014.
In 2016, Nijjar was designated as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act by the Indian government. This meant that his assets in India were frozen and he was banned from traveling to India.
He was also wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for several terrorism-related cases one of that is for Bombing in Punjab and running terror camps for training terrorist. He has a cash reward of 10 lakh INR on his head.
In 2016, Interpol Red Corner Notice was also issued against him.
He also organized rallies and demonstrations in support of Khalistan in several countries in front of Indian Embassies also destructing and setting fire on Indian Embassy in Canada, US and England.
Nijjar used his position as president of the Surrey gurdwara to promote the Khalistani cause and polarized the Sikh youths in Canada against India.
On June 18, 2023, Nijjar was shot and killed outside the Surrey gurdwara. His murder sparked tensions between India and Canada, with India accusing Canada of not doing enough to prevent his killing. The Canadian government has said that it is investigating the murder and has not ruled out any possibility.
Nijjar’s legacy: Considered Activist by Few
Nijjar’s death is a tragedy, regardless of one’s political views.
Nijjar’s supporters see him as a martyr who was killed for his beliefs. They argue that he was a peaceful activist who was targeted by the Indian government for his opposition to its policies. They also point to the fact that Nijjar was never convicted of any crime in Canada, and that he was a respected member of the Sikh community.
Nijjar’s legacy: Considered Terrorist by Many
Nijjar’s detractors see him as a terrorist who deserved to die.
They argue that he was responsible for inciting violence and that due to his actions many innocent people have lost their lives and are put at risk.
They also point to the fact that Nijjar was designated as a terrorist by both India and Canada.
The killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar is a complex and controversial issue. There is no easy answer to the question of whether he was a martyr or a terrorist.
Impact of Nijjar’s death
Nijjar’s death has had a significant impact on the Sikh community in Canada.
It has also raised important questions about the nature of terrorism, the role of foreign governments in domestic affairs.
Some Sikh leaders have condemned Nijjar’s actions, calling him terrorist and have supported his death is for good future and humanity. Others have expressed support for Nijjar, saying that he was a freedom fighter who was killed for his beliefs.
The killing has also led to renewed calls for an independent Sikh state of Khalistan. The killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar has also had a negative impact on relations between India and Canada.
The Indian government has accused Canada of not doing enough to prevent Nijjar’s killing. The Canadian government has accused the role of Indian Government and agencies having a role in Nijjar’s killing.
He was a polarizing figure, and his supporters saw him as a freedom fighter, while his detractors saw him as a terrorist.
Read more about Hardeep Singh Crime Records on Khalistan Extremisim Monitor
