One of the Indian nationals suspected to be behind the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar Canada entered using a study permit, according to a report in Canada-based Global News.
Karan Brar, who was arrested along with two others on May 3, said in a video posted in 2019 that he applied for a student visa through EthicWorks Immigration Services in Punjab’s Bathinda and received it in days. The standard Canada student visa processing time is approximately 7–9 weeks.
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EthicWorks Immigration Services had posted the promotional video on its Facebook page carrying a photo of Brar in which he is seen holding a passport with a Canadian study permit inside. The video, however, has now been deleted.
“Congratulations Karan Brar for Canada study visa… One more happy client from Kotkapura,” the caption read.
The Global News report said Brar began studying at Calgary’s Bow Valley College on April 30, 2020. He moved to Edmonton on May 4, 2020.
A spokesperson for the college said Brar was enrolled in the eight-month hospital unit clerk program. However, the spokesperson could not confirm if it was the same person as the one arrested for Nijjar’s murder.
The college, however, said it never had an “affiliation with a company named EthicWorks Immigration Services.”
THREE INDIANS ARRESTED IN HARDEEP NIJJAR MURDER CASE
The three Indians were arrested in Edmonton, Alberta, on May 3, and charged with first-degree murder. Apart from Brar, the other two have been identified as Karanpreet Singh, 28, and Kamalpreet Singh, 22.
However, Canadian police have not given any evidence linking the three accused to the Indian government.
Hardeep Nijjar was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey on June 18, 2023. Canadian police said the trio allegedly played different roles as shooters, drivers and spotters on the day Nijjar was killed.
Authorities are also investigating if they have ties to the Indian government.
Last year, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau blamed “agents of the government of India” behind the incident. The Indian government has called the claim “absurd” and the incident triggered a diplomatic standoff with Canada.
The Indian government had asked Canada to withdraw more than 40 of its diplomats from the country and had also stopped issuing visas to Canadian nationals. However, it later summarized issuing visas in a phased manner.
Published By:
Abhishek De
Published On:
May 9, 2024
