Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated terrorist and Khalistan supporter, was shot dead at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in the Punjabi-dominated Surrey city of British Columbia province in Canada.
Nijjar was currently wanted in at least four NIA cases pertaining to Sikh radicalism, including a conspiracy to kill a Hindu priest at Phillaur in Punjab. The NIA also declared Rs10 lakh cash reward on him in July.
Nijjar, the chief of a pro-Khalistani outfit Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), was responsible for promoting the secessionist and terror agenda of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun-run ‘Sikhs for Justice’ (SFJ). It was after he established himself as a rogue element involved in terror activities in India, Pannun appointed him his separatist organisation SFJ’s representative in Canada tasking him with promoting the ‘Referendum-2020 campaign’.
Even though he claimed to be earning a livelihood by doing "hard work as a
{{/usCountry}}Even though he claimed to be earning a livelihood by doing "hard work as a
{{/usCountry}}plumber", the fact is 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, Vancouver.
Najjar 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 allegedly known for promoting anti-India Khalistani elements.