Surrey City

Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead in the Punjabi-dominated Surrey city of Canada's British Columbia province, reportedly by two unidentified gunmen. India's National Investigation Agency in the past had announced a cash reward of ₹10 lakhs ($12,192) on him.

He had played a key role in organising the so-called Khalistan referendum in Brampton city that created anti-India optics.

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Who was Hardeep Singh Nijjar?

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was the chief of Khalistan Tiger Force. 

A native of Harsinghpur in Jalandhar district of India's Punjab state, the 46-year-old has been accused of promoting secessionist and terror agenda of banned 'Sikhs for Justice' organisation of conspiring to kill a Hindu priest at Phillaur in Punjab.

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Also read | Khalistani terrorist Avtar Singh Khanda, handler of Amritpal Singh, dies in London

He was the president of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey and was associated with Sikhs for Justice, an organisation banned by India for its secessionist activities.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar's criminal history

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In 2010, Punjab Police had filed a FIR against Nijjar for his involvement in an explosion near Satya Narayan temple in Patiala. 

Separately, in 2015 another FIR was filed against him for plotting to kill religious leaders. 

Later in 2016 another FIR was filed for organizing training camp in Canada in December 2015. 

A Look out Circular (LOC) and a Red Corner Notice (RCN) were also lodged against him in 2015 and 2016. Although Canadian authorities had briefly detained him in April 2018, he was released without any charges being filed. 

Hardeep Singh Nijjar dead: What did he do in Canada?

Nijjar claimed to be earning a livelihood by doing "hard work as a plumber". But a report in Hindustan Times states that he forcibly occupied Surrey’s Guru Nanak Sikh temple to become its president.

In the last couple of years, he was regularly seen as part of protests in front of the Consulate General of India, in Canada's Vancouver.

Also watch | The India Story| ANALYSING KHALISTANI ACTIVISM

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Nijjar became friendly with people like separatist Moninder Boyle, an educated Canada-born Sikh. Boyle, till recently, was the president of another gurdwara in Surrey – Sri Dashmesh Darbar.

Both the gurdwaras – Guru Nanak Sikh Temple and Sri Dashmesh Darbar – are known for promoting anti-India Khalistani elements in and beyond India's intelligence circles.

Nijjar was on radar of India's anti-terror agency

India's National Investigation Agency had earlier filed a chargesheet against Nijjar for allegedly conspiring to carry out terror attacks.

India had previously asked Canadian authorities to take action against Nijjar for his alleged involvement in terrorist acts in Punjab.

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