Khalistani extremist Inderjit Singh Gosal, considered an in depth aide and right-hand man of terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has reportedly been arrested in Ottawa on a number of fees associated to firearms possession, a number of experiences indicated on Monday.
Gosal rose to prominence as a key Canadian organiser for the US-based Khalistani outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) after the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023.
His detention marks the second time in lower than a yr that he has been apprehended by Canadian authorities, in accordance with a NDTV report.
Gosal was taken into custody final November in reference to a violent incident at a Hindu temple within the Larger Toronto Space (GTA), the place he allegedly attacked Hindu-Canadian worshippers.
He was later granted conditional launch by Peel Regional Police (PRP).
The 36-year-old is believed to be one of many closest associates of Pannun, the designated terrorist and chief of Sikhs for Justice, and has additionally served as his Private Safety Officer (PSO).
Pannun, a twin US-Canadian citizen initially from Punjab, was declared an “particular person terrorist” by the Ministry of Dwelling Affairs (MHA) in July 2020, a yr after his organisation was banned and designated as a terrorist outfit.
Authorities in India have filed greater than 100 instances towards SFJ and Pannun, with practically 60 of them registered in Punjab alone.
Gosal’s arrest comes towards the backdrop of India and Canada’s collaborative method in the direction of a contemporary chapter in bilateral ties, together with nearer cooperation to fight terrorism and transnational crimes.
It additionally coincides with the latest resumption of regular diplomatic operations between New Delhi and Ottawa, after relations between the 2 nations had plummeted in 2023 when then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged an Indian hyperlink to the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
India denied all of the allegations, calling them “absurd” and “motivated”, accusing Ottawa of giving house to extremist and anti-India parts within the nation.
On Thursday, Nationwide Safety Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and his Canadian counterpart Nathalie Drouin held in depth talks in New Delhi aimed toward repairing strained relations, with terrorism and safety cooperation that includes prominently on the agenda.