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Sikh protesters in B.C. decry Nijjar shooting death as foreign interference

Nijjar was gunned down in his vehicle while leaving the Surrey temple parking lot

A volunteer at the Metro Vancouver Sikh temple whose president was gunned down a week ago said Hardeep Singh Nijjar knew his life may have been in danger.

Gurkeerat Singh said Nijjar gave a speech at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara on the day of his death just hours before the shooting in the temple91裸聊视频檚 parking lot that claimed his life, noting he had been warned by Canadian intelligence officials.

Singh, who attended a protest Saturday (June 24) in front of Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 Indian consulate along with 200 others from Canada91裸聊视频檚 Sikh community, said temple members firmly believe Nijjar91裸聊视频檚 death was a result of foreign interference.

91裸聊视频淲hen they are informing our leaders that their lives may be in danger, we have all the right to believe that it could be foreign interference involved in this,91裸聊视频 Singh said.

Nijjar was gunned down in his vehicle while leaving the temple parking lot at around 8:30 p.m. on June 18, and homicide investigators said they are looking for two 91裸聊视频渉eavy-set91裸聊视频 suspects seen leaving the scene, likely to a getaway car parked a few blocks away.

While police have acknowledged that there is fear and speculation stemming from the attack, investigators say they have not linked the shooting to foreign interference and there are no reasons to believe the Sikh community in Canada is at risk.

Protesters, however, say they are convinced the killing was linked to Nijjar91裸聊视频檚 active role in advocating for an independent Sikh state of Khalistan in India.

Nijjar was organizing an unofficial referendum in India for an independent Sikh state at the time of this death.

The Indian government had offered a reward of 1 million rupees, or about $16,000, last July for information that could lead to Nijjar91裸聊视频檚 arrest or apprehension, and the country91裸聊视频檚 counterterrorism body referred to him as a 91裸聊视频渇ugitive terrorist91裸聊视频 who led a conspiracy to murder a Hindu priest.

Protesters, however, described Nijjar as 91裸聊视频減eaceful,91裸聊视频 91裸聊视频渉umble91裸聊视频 and 91裸聊视频渓oved in the community91裸聊视频 for his outreach efforts. Those included offering free meals to people in need and travelling to Kamloops in 2021 to offer support to First Nations groups after the discovery of unmarked graves at a residential school site.

91裸聊视频淗e was a loving man, a hard-working man, a family man,91裸聊视频 Singh said. 91裸聊视频淗e worked as a plumber, so he91裸聊视频檚 well respected in the community, and he was someone that always the community looked up to.91裸聊视频

Protesters on Saturday mostly wore orange headwear and carried large yellow flags displaying the word 91裸聊视频淜halistan,91裸聊视频 chanting loudly as many stepped on an Indian flag they brought to the scene.

The crowd consisted of Sikh community members covering the full gamut of demographics from young children to the elderly, and some said they travelled from cities such as Edmonton, Toronto and Montreal.

91裸聊视频淚 am overwhelmed by the response of the Sikh community,91裸聊视频 said Jatinder Singh Grewal, a director with Sikhs for Justice, a group that helped organize the protest. 91裸聊视频淭he Sikhs all around the world, not only from B.C. but from all over the world have outpoured their support for Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

91裸聊视频淧eople who can come out, have come out in support of this.91裸聊视频

Singh said he hopes the protest further opens Canadians91裸聊视频 eyes to not only Nijjar91裸聊视频檚 death, but also the possibility of foreign interference on home soil.

91裸聊视频淐anada is someone who prides itself in human rights and leading in freedom of expression, freedom of speech and freedom overall,91裸聊视频 he said. 91裸聊视频淪o if Canada is someone who advocates for this91裸聊视频 It91裸聊视频檚 definitely a Canadian issue, and Canadians should be concerned about this.91裸聊视频

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 24, 2023.

Chuck Chiang, The Canadian Press





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