India Charges Canadian Border Official in Terror Case Amid Diplomatic Rift

Amid growing tensions between India and Canada over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, India has reportedly added a Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA) official, Sandeep Singh Sidhu, to its list of fugitive terrorists. India seeks his deportation, accusing him of promoting terrorist activities in Punjab.

This diplomatic row intensified when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police alleged that Indian diplomats were targeting Sikh separatists in Canada. They claimed Indian officials shared information about these activists with organized crime groups, leading to drive-by shootings, extortion, and murder. India dismissed these claims as baseless and retaliated by expelling Canada’s acting high commissioner and five other diplomats.

Sandeep Singh Sidhu, linked to the banned International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), is alleged to have ties with Pakistan-based Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh Rode and other ISI operatives. Reports suggest Sidhu played a role in the 2020 assassination of Balwinder Singh Sandhu, a Shaurya Chakra awardee known for resisting Khalistani militants in Punjab. Sandhu became a target for opposing the Khalistan referendum movements led by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) in the US and Canada.

Indian authorities claim Canada-based Khalistani operatives, including Sunny Toronto, conspired with Rode in Sandhu’s murder. While reports suggest Sidhu has been promoted to superintendent at CBSA, it remains unclear if “Sunny Toronto” is an alias for Sidhu. As tensions escalate, this case adds further strain to the already fragile relations between the two countries.