The head of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Commissioner Mike Duheme, has made a heartfelt appeal to Canada’s Sikh community, urging members to come forward with any information related to allegations of violent activities linked to the Indian government on Canadian soil. This call for cooperation comes as the RCMP investigates serious accusations, including homicides, extortion, and intimidation.
“If people come forward, we can help them, and I ask them to come forward if they can,” Duheme stated in an interview with Radio-Canada. He emphasized that “people come to Canada to feel safe, and our job as law enforcement is to make sure that they’re in an environment that is safe to live.”
Duheme’s comments arise amid a significant diplomatic crisis between Canada and India, which intensified following Ottawa’s allegations that Indian government agents were involved in the June 2022 murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan advocate designated as a terrorist by India. New Delhi has firmly denied these accusations, labeling them as “unsubstantiated” and politically motivated, particularly with next year’s elections approaching.
In a press conference earlier this week, Duheme alleged that some Indian diplomats and consular officials in Canada have connections to criminal gangs, including the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang. This gang has been implicated in various violent crimes, including homicides and extortion. The RCMP has charged eight individuals with homicide and 22 others with extortion as part of these investigations, although no direct evidence linking the Indian government to Nijjar’s murder has been publicly revealed.
Assistant Commissioner Brigitte Gauvin highlighted the seriousness of the situation, noting that 13 Canadians have received warnings since September 2023 that they may be targets of harassment or threats from individuals connected to Indian agents.
In response, Indian officials have categorically dismissed these claims, arguing that no evidence has been presented by Canadian authorities regarding Indian involvement in the Nijjar case. Sources in New Delhi accused Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of using the diplomatic conflict to gain favor with pro-Khalistan groups for domestic political leverage.
India’s reaction to the situation has been significant, leading to the expulsion of six Canadian diplomats, including the High Commissioner to India. As part of a tit-for-tat diplomatic maneuver, India is also reducing its diplomatic presence in Canada. The affected diplomats are expected to leave India by the weekend, and India has announced the withdrawal of its own High Commissioner from Ottawa.
As the investigation unfolds and diplomatic tensions rise, the RCMP’s outreach to the Sikh community reflects an effort to maintain public safety and gather crucial information that could illuminate the complexities of the ongoing crisis between Canada and India.
