Nijjar murder suspect entered Canada on student visa: Report
What's the story
Karan Brar, an Indian citizen and suspect in the assassination of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, reportedly entered Canada using a study permit. The information came to light after a video from 2019 surfaced, in which Brar said he applied for a student visa through EthicWorks Immigration Services in Punjab. He also claimed that he received his student visa within days, when the typical processing time is seven to nine weeks.
Promotional video
Brar's visa application celebrated by immigration firm
Promotional materials on EthicWorks' Facebook page had also celebrated Brar's successful visa acquisition. A video posted to the firm's Facebook page featured Brar holding a passport with a Canadian study permit. However, this video has since been removed from their page. While Immigration Minister Marc Miller declined to comment on the suspects' entry into Canada, reports indicate that Brar arrived on a student visa three years before the killing.
College enrollment
Brar's academic journey and arrest in Canada
According to Global News, Brar began his studies at Bow Valley College in Calgary on April 30, 2020. He then moved to Edmonton on May 4, 2020. A representative from the college confirmed his enrollment in an eight-month hospital unit clerk program but could not verify if this was the same individual arrested for Nijjar's murder. The college also stated that it has no affiliation with EthicWorks Immigration Services.
Murder investigation
Murder charges and investigation into Indian government ties
Canadian police arrested Brar and two other Indian citizens, Karanpreet Singh, 28, and Kamalpreet Singh, 22, in Edmonton, Alberta, on May 3. They were charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with Nijjar's killing outside a gurdwara in Surrey on June 18, 2023. Police suggest that each suspect had different roles as shooters, drivers, and spotters during the murder. Investigations are ongoing to determine if they have any links to the Indian government.
Diplomatic fallout
Diplomatic tensions between Canada and India
In the aftermath of Nijjar's killing, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attributed the incident to "agents of the government of India," a charge denied as "baseless" by New Delhi. The charge led to a diplomatic standoff between the two countries, with both sides recalling envoys. India asked Canada to recall over 40 diplomats and temporarily halted issuing visas to Canadian citizens, before gradually resuming the process.