Indian national accused of killing Nijjar assaulted in detention facility in Canada

An Indian national, who has been detained in connection with pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar's killing, was reportedly assaulted in a detention facility in Canada, as reported by the local media.

According to a report published by the Indo-Canadian Voice, one of the three accused was “attacked at the Surrey Pretrial Centre” and the incident most probably took place in the gym.

The police had arrested three, of the four accused in Nijjar's killing which allegedly took place onJune 18, 2023, in Surrey, British Columbia. The trio is now in custody as the cases against them are ongoing in the courts.

The Voice reported that British Columbia's Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General failed to confirm (or deny) if the incident occurred and shared no information related to it citing “privacy laws and security considerations.”

Indian nationals arrested in Nijjar murder case

The police arrested Karan Brar, 22, Kamalpreet Singh, 22, and Karanpreet Singh, 28, on May 3 from Edmonton in Alberta.

The fourth accused, who is 22-year-old Amandeep Singh, was charged with Nijjar’s killing on May 11 when he was kept in custody after being arrested by Peel Regional Police in November 2023 on unrelated weapons and drugs charges.

All four appeared before a judge at the provincial court virtually in Surrey on August 7, however, their trial was adjourned till October 1.

Watch:Canada holds 'moment of silence' for terrorist Hardeep Nijjar in parliament

The four accused were charged with first-degree murder and conspiring to commit murder.

Commander of the Federal Policing Program in the Pacific Region Assistant Commissioner David Teboul on May 3 said that there were “separate and distinct investigations ongoing” including “investigating connections to the Government of India.”

Canada’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) is investigating the case.

(With inputs from agencies)