Hardeep Singh Nijjar Escaping to Canada with a Fake Passport and ‘Faked’ Marriage to Acquire Citizenship: Report

Sources told PTI on Friday that Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar entered Canada on a fake passport and that Canada took no action against him despite being informed that he was charged with more than a dozen murders and other terrorist offenses. Nijjar’s death caused significant diplomatic tensions between India and Canada.

In 1997, Nijjar emigrated to Canada. He said that he feared persecution in India because he belonged to “a particular social group” in his application for asylum in Canada. However, it was disregarded due to a made-up storyline, according to PTI. He engaged into a “marriage” contract with a lady who sponsored his immigration eleven days after his petition was denied. Canada’s immigration authorities also turned down this application since the lady had already entered the country in 1997 under a different husband’s sponsorship.

Although he continued to assert his Canadian citizenship, Nijjar disputed the decision in Canadian courts. Later, under unclear circumstances, he was given Canadian citizenship. In November 2014, Interpol issued a Red Corner Notice (RCN) on him.

In India, Nijjar was charged with more than a dozen murders and other terrorist offenses. The Canadian authorities were informed in detail of the occurrences, but sources claim that nothing was done. Additionally, they said that despite RCN, the Canadian authorities just placed him on a no-fly list.

On June 18, Nijjar was slain at a British Columbia gurdwara parking lot. India has denied allegations made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that it was involved in the killing. Trudeau, though, reaffirmed his claims and urged India to assist in the investigation into the murder.