Canada expels six Indian diplomats; Canadian Police levels serious allegations on Indian law enforcement agencies
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ October 14,2024
The Canadian police said on Monday that it has significant amount of information on criminal activity orchestrated by agents of the Indian government. In a major escalation of diplomatic row, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, and India also expelled six Canadian diplomats on Monday.
As per news agency Reuters, “Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner, Mike Duheme says, “…Over the past few years and more recently, law enforcement agencies in Canada have successfully investigated and charged a significant number of individuals for their direct involvement in homicides, extortions & other criminal acts of violence. In addition, there have been well over a dozen credible imminent threats to life which have led to the conduct of duty to warn, by law enforcement with members of South Asian community and specifically, members of the pro-Khalistan movement. In February 2024, the RCMP created a multi-disciplinary team to investigate and coordinate efforts to combat this threat. The team has learnt a significant amount of information on breadth & depth of criminal activity orchestrated by agents of the Government of India, in consequential threats to the safety and security of Canadians & individuals living in Canada. Despite law enforcement’s action, the harm has continued, posing a serious threat to our public safety. We reached a point where we felt that it was imperative to confront Govt of India and inform the public about some very serious findings that have been uncovered through our investigations.”
Duheme says, “There is a violent, extremist threat in Canada that Canada and India have been working on over the years. However, these threats are impacting Canada and India’s ability to collaborate. Earlier this week, RCMP Deputy Commissioner of Federal Policing made attempt to meet with the Indian law-enforcement counterparts to discuss violent, extremist that occurred in Canada and India & present evidence pertaining to agents of the Govt of India’s involvement in serious criminal activity here in Canada. Unfortunately, these attempts were unsuccessful. Therefore, Deputy Commissioner met with officials of the Govt of India, alongside the National Security & Intelligence Advisor and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs over the weekend. Through our National Task Force and other investigative efforts, the RCMP has obtained evidence that demonstrates four very serious issues – 1) violence, extremist impact in both countries, 2) links tying agents of the Govt of India to homicides & violent acts, 3) the use of organised crime to creat perception of unsafe environment targeting the South Asian community in Canada, 4) interference in democratic processes.”
Mike Duheme says, “Investigations have revealed that Indian diplomats and consular officials based in Canada leverage their position to engage in clandestine activities such as collecting information for the Govt of India, either directly or through their agents and other individuals who acted voluntarily or through coercion. Evidence also shows that a wide variety of entities in Canada have been used by agents of the Government of India to collect information. Some of these individuals & businesses were coerced & threatened into working with the Govt of India. The information collected by the Govt of India is then used to target the members of South Asian community. This evidence was presented directly to the Government of India officials urging their cooperation in stemming the violence and requesting our law-enforcement agencies work together to address this issue…”
“It (India) is targeting South Asian community but they are specifically targeting pro-Khalistani elements in Canada…What we have seen is, from an RCMP perspective, they use organised crime elements. It has been publically attributed and claimed by one organised crime group in particular – Bishnoi Group…We believe that the group is connected to agents of the Government of India,” says Brigitte Gauvin, Assistant Commissioner, Federal Policing, National Security, Royal Canadian Mounted Police as per news agency Reuters.
Canada expels six Indian diplomats; Canadian Police levels serious allegations on Indian law enforcement agencies. India has also expelled six Canadian diplomats.
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