INDIA’S Punjab Police is digging into the backgrounds of the three Indian nationals — Karan Brar, 22, Kamalpreet Singh, 22, Karanpreet Singh, 28 — who have been charged with with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the June 18, 2023 homicide of prominent Khalistan advocate Hardeep Singh Nijjar in the parking lot of Surrey’s Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara where he served as president.

The three accused were arrested on Friday in Edmonton, Alberta, where they were residing. Canadian police are still investigating if there are any ties to the Government of India.

India’s Tribune newspaper reports that police sources have told them that none of the accused have any criminal history.

KARANPREET SINGH

Karanpreet Singh, hails from Sundal village under the jurisdiction of Ghanie ke Bangar police station in Batala, and his dad, Sukhdev Singh, is a granthi in a village gurdwara. He is a member of a farm union whose leaders are facing charges for violence at Red Fort on January 26, 2021, during the agitation against the now-repealed three farm laws.

The Tribune says both dad and son used to drive trucks in Dubai before the son moved to Canada three years ago while the dad returned to India. Karanpreet has two elder sisters, both of whom are married.

[Karanpreet’s family told The Times of India that they had spoken to him a day before his arrest on Friday. His dad said that he appeared to be normal without any indication of being in trouble.]

KARAN BRAR

The newspaper says that Karan Brar belongs to Kotkapura. [The Times of India says he belongs to Kot Sukhia village near Kotkapura town of Faridkot.] Karan’s dad Mandeep Singh Brar died about two weeks ago at his native place. [The Times of India says Karan did not return to India even after his dad’s death.] His dad was facing a case of cheating and forgery. His mom Ramandeep Brar lives in Singapore and is currently in Punjab for the last rites and other rituals of her husband, police sources told the Tribune. The mother was hospitalized after hearing about her son’s arrest in Canada.

The Tribune says Karan’s grandfather Balbir Singh Brar said he couldn’t believe the allegation levelled by Canada. Karan has no criminal history in Punjab, according to Jasmeet Singh, Superintendent of Police, Faridkot.

KAMALPREET SINGH

Kamalpreet Singh is from Chak Kallan village in Nakodar, Jalandhar.

According to the Tribune’s information, Kamalpreet migrated to Canada on a student visa in 2019 following his completion of Class 12 exams. His dad Satnam Singh is an commission agent at the grain market of Shankar Dana village and is also a member of the panchayat (village council). He owns 25 acres of land at Chak Kallan village.

Satnam Singh lives with his wife and mother, whereas his son Kamalpreet and his daughter, who has been married in Canada, live in Edmonton.

A relative of Kamalpreet told the newspaper that Kamalpreet used to be a diligent and innocent young man who was a source of pride for the village.

He said Karanpreet, who is one of the three accused in the Nijjar murder case, is Kamalpreet’s friend and shared a room with him.

He said that Karan Brar, the third accused in the case, had acted as a mediator in Kamalpreet’s sister’s marriage a year ago. He said it was during this time that Kamalpreet first came into contact with Brar.

Neighbours told the Tribune, that Kamalpreet wanted to go to Canada to pursue his dreams as all his friends were moving there.

[Satnam told The Times of India that his son used to call the family every week from Canada. “For us, everything was normal till we received this shock.”]

The police Station House Officer (SHO), Inspector Jai Ram, said Kamalpreet did not have any criminal history in the district police records.

MEANWHILE, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar told the media that his government has always tried to obtain more details and evidence from Canada to support its accusations in connection to Nijjar’s murder.

He said: “We have never been given anything by Canada which involves the Government of India. In fact, we have repeatedly told them, ‘If you have something, please give it to us.’ Yes, some people have been arrested.”

However, he blamed Canada, saying: “One of our concerns is that they have allowed organized crime from India, specifically from Punjab, to operate there. I think you may have seen something like that. I don’t know. We have to wait for police to tell us.”

He again blamed Canada for not taking action against Khalistanis who have allegedly committed crimes in India, claiming: “We have taken up Khalistani issue with Canada in great detail. They have a lot of knowledge about many Khalistanis in Canada, but they have chosen not to do anything about it. We have many extradition requests pending with them. From our side, we are very clear about our stand.”

But Canada says the evidence presented by India is not good enough for Canadian courts.