NB In List | Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, wanted in India, shot dead in Canada's Surrey; 10 key points-

Surrey, June 19: Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, wanted by the Indian government, was shot dead by two unidentified youths in a targeted shooting within the Gurdwara Sahib premises in Canada's Surrey on Sunday evening.

1.Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was based in Canada, was the head of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Sahib and chief of the pro-Khalistani outfit, Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF)

2.The 46-year-old was a native of Bhar Singh Pura village in Jalandhar, was known to be actively involved in operationalising, networking, training, and financing members of the KTF, according to the Union government.

3.Nijjar was responsible for promoting the secessionist and terror agenda of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun-run ‘Sikhs for Justice’ (SFJ). He recently went to Australia for the referendum voting.

4.Pannun appointed him his separatist organisation SFJ’s representative in Canada tasking him with promoting the ‘Referendum-2020 campaign’ and recently went to Australia for the referendum voting.

5.Nijjar had forcibly occupied Surrey’s Guru Nanak Sikh temple to become its president and in the last couple of years, he was regularly seen as part of protests in front of the Consulate General of India, Vancouver.

6. In 2022, the NIA declared a Rs 10 lakh reward on Nijjar after he was accused of conspiring to kill a Hindu priest in Punjab's Jalandhar.

7.The NIA had also filed a chargesheet against Nijjar in a case of conspiracy to commit terrorist acts against India. During the investigation, it was discovered that Nijjar had made incriminating statements, posted objectionable content, and shared photos and videos on social media platforms to “spread insurrectionary imputations” through hateful speeches and also attempting to create disharmony among different communities in India.

8.His name had been included in the wanted list handed over by the then-Punjab Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the latter’s visit to India in 2018.

9.Hardeep Singh Nijjar was also facing charges in various cases registered and being investigated by the Punjab Police, leading to a red corner notice being issued against him.

10.According to a Punjab government order in 2020, a total of 11 kanal and 13.5 marlas of land belonging to Nijjar was seized in his native village, Bhar Singapura, in Phillaur subdivision of Jalandhar district. A villager mentioned that Hardeep’s family had migrated a long time ago, but his parents frequently visit the village and had last done so before the lockdown.