Barricades outside Indian High Commission in Ottawa amid threats by Khalistani protesters

Ottawa

For the first time ever, Canadian authorities have put barricades in front of the Indian High Commission in Ottawa amid threats by Khalistani protesters. Images accessed exclusively by WION show the high-profile building being guarded by rails and barricades as authorities anticipate a protest by Khalistan supporters.  

Canadian authorities are beefing up the security days after notorious Khalistani group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) launched the 'Death To India - Balkanize' campaign, calling to 'shut down Indian missions' globally on September 25 to expose "Modi regime's nefarious designs to assassinate Khalistan Referendum Campaigners".

SFJ is a banned terrorist organisation in India and murdered Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a part of it.

However, the Canadian government is yet to take any action on it despite the group's prominent leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun openly issuing a threat to Indo-Canadian Hindus by asking them to return to India. 

Watch | Gravitas: Another Khalistani Terrorist shot dead in Canada | Why is PM Trudeau mute now?

Previous instances of Indian consulates being attacked 

In the past few months, there have been multiple instances of the Indian High Commission and consulates being targeted by non-state actors.

In March, the Indian High Commission in London was targeted by pro-Khalistani rioters who pulled down the Indian national flag while agitating outside the building.  

In July, Khalistan supporters attacked the Indian consulate in San Francisco, USA and set fire to the compound which was fortunately doused quickly by the authorities. 

Also read | India removes security from outside UK mission after vandalism at Indian High Commission in London

This was the second instance when the San Francisco consulate was attacked by the radicals.

In March, in full public view, the pro-Khalistani protesters attacked and damaged the consulate, prompting sharp condemnation from the Indian government and Indian-Americans, who demanded immediate action against those responsible for it.

Delicate situation in Ottawa

The escalation in the diplomatic standoff after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's claim of 'credible allegations' of Indian agents' involvement in the death of Nijjar is perhaps responsible for the delicate law and order situation in Ottawa.  

"Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar," said Trudeau in a statement to the House of Commons.

Nijjar was shot dead on June 18 by two unidentified men in the parking lot of Guru Nanak Gurdwara Sahib in Surrey, Canada. 

Despite having made the allegations days ago, the Trudeau administration is yet to produce any 'credible evidence', suggesting the Canadian PM may have overplayed his hand. 

Khalistan protests outside Indian mission in Toronto

Khalistan protests were held outside the Indian diplomatic mission in Toronto on Monday. According to a report by the news agency Reuters, the protests are aimed at increasing public awareness about India's alleged role in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Between 100 and 150 members were expected to join the protests, Jatinder Singh Grewal, a director of the group Sikh for Justice in Canada, said, but only a dozen people gathered in front of the Indian consulate in Toronto around Monday noon. 

(With inputs from agencies)

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