“There are separate and distinct investigations ongoing into these matters, certainly not limited to the involvement of the people arrested today, and these efforts include investigating connections to the Government of India.”

THE RCMP announced on Friday that three suspects have been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the June 18, 2023 homicide of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in the parking lot of Surrey’s Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara where he served as president.

The accused are Karan Brar, 22, Kamalpreet Singh, 22, and Karanpreet Singh, 28. All three are Indian nationals who were residing in Edmonton where they were arrested on Friday morning at different times without any issues or concerns. They were not known to police.

Police are still investigating if there are any ties to the Government of India. But the officers said that Canadian police’s relationship with Indian police has been “rather challenging and difficult.”

Superintendent Mandeep Mooker, Officer-in-Charge of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT), Assistant Commissioner David Teboul, Commander of the Federal Policing Program in the Pacific Region, and Assistant Commissioner Brian Edwards, Officer-in-Charge of Surrey RCMP Detachment, addressed the media at BC RCMP Headquarters in Surrey.

There are ongoing investigations that police will not comment on.

Mooker said police would not have had success without “the bravery and courage of the Sikh community coming forward.”

Teboul said: “Now, with unequivocal commitment to the administration of Justice, and with reverence to the upcoming judicial proceedings on this matter, we are not able to make any comments about the nature of the evidence collected by police nor can we speak about the motive behind the murder of Mr. Nijjar. However, understanding this situation has attracted considerable and very broad public interest, I will say this matter is still very much under active investigation. I will underscore that today’s announcements are not a complete account of the investigative work currently underway. There are separate and distinct investigations ongoing into these matters, certainly not limited to the involvement of the people arrested today, and these efforts include investigating connections to the Government of India.”

Mooker said: “The investigation does not end here. We are aware that there could be others out there that played a role in this homicide and we remain dedicated to identifying and arresting each one of them.”

He added: “I would like to thank the Nijjar family, the citizens of Surrey and the members of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Executive, for your patience and support throughout this investigation. I appreciate that the community still has questions, many of which we will not be able to answer at this time, as this investigation now proceeds through the courts system. Again, I thank you for your patience and understanding.”

LATER, IHIT issued a press statement. It recalled that on June 18, 2023, Surrey RCMP received a report of a shooting at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara at 7050 120 Street. First responding members located a man, later identified as 45-year-old Hardeep Singh Nijjar, suffering from fatal gunshot wounds inside a vehicle.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) took conduct of the investigation and has continued to work closely with a number of partner agencies and support services across Canada, as far east as Ontario, including Surrey RCMP, Alberta RCMP and other Lower Mainland Integrated Teams.

On the morning of May 3, 2024, IHIT investigators, with the assistance of members from BC RCMP, Alberta RCMP and the Edmonton Police Service, arrested three men for Nijjar’s murder. The three have now been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in relation to the homicide: 22-year-old Karan Brar of Edmonton; 22-year-old Kamalpreet Singh of Edmonton; and 28-year-old Karanpreet Singh of Edmonton.

IHIT said it was releasing photos of the accused men in hopes of furthering its investigation.

IHIT also released photographs of a Toyota Corolla, believed to have been used by the suspects in the time leading up to the homicide, in and around the Surrey area.

Anyone who may have seen these individuals or the vehicle, in or around Surrey, in the weeks leading up to the homicide, or anyone with information about the homicide is asked to contact IHIT.

“Today’s charges are the result of 10 months of dedication from the IHIT investigators and it’s many partners across Canada including both RCMP and municipal police services,” said Mooker.

“The investigation does not end here. We are aware that there are others out there that played a role in this homicide and we remain dedicated to identifying and arresting each one of them.”

IHIT is asking anyone with information regarding the investigation to contact the IHIT Information Line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

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