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According to law enforcement authorities, Sukha Duneke, a prominent proponent of the Khalistan separatist movement, met his demise during a violent altercation between rival gangs in the city of Winnipeg, Canada, on the evening of Wednesday.
As detailed in various reports, Duneke had established a close affiliation with Arshdeep Singh, who is known by the alias Arsh Dala and is associated with criminal activities based in Canada.
Prior to his unfortunate demise, Sukhdool Singh, also known as Duneke, had a history as a member of the Devinder Bambiha Gang, a criminal outfit operating in the state of Punjab, India. In 2017, he managed to evade authorities and relocate to Canada by utilizing counterfeit documents.
Remarkably, on the day of the tragic incident, his name had appeared on a list compiled by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) that comprised 43 individuals with suspected links to criminal activities, prompting the agency to seek information regarding any illicit properties connected to him.
This unfortunate event bears a striking resemblance to the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent leader within the Khalistan movement, who also fell victim to gang-related violence in Surrey during the month of June.
It is crucial to note that this incident unfolded against the backdrop of a significant diplomatic dispute between India and Canada. This dispute gained momentum when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly alleged the potential involvement of the Indian government in the assassination of Najjar.
Amid escalating tensions between India and Canada, New Delhi has taken the unprecedented step of suspending visa services indefinitely for Canadian nationals. This decision comes in the wake of Ottawa's announcement that it would temporarily adjust its diplomatic staff's presence in India due to concerns over the safety of diplomats, who have received threats via social media platforms.
The catalyst for the deteriorating relations between the two nations was Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's accusation of Indian involvement in the assassination of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. This accusation ignited a diplomatic crisis, resulting in a series of tit-for-tat expulsions of senior diplomats from both sides throughout the week.
It's worth noting that the suspension of visa services for Canadian citizens was not formally declared by Indian authorities. Instead, BLS International, the organization responsible for managing visa application centers in Canada, posted a message on its Canadian website conveying the suspension. The message read: "Important notice from the Indian Mission: Due to operational reasons, with effect from 21st September 2023 [Thursday], Indian visa services have been suspended until further notice."
While an Indian official has confirmed the suspension, they declined to provide additional details, stating that "the language is clear and it says what it is intended to say." Remarkably, this marks the first instance of India suspending visa services since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, as of late Wednesday, the Indian High Commission's website appeared to be inaccessible for confirmation due to technical issues.
The suspension of visa services follows India's advisory issued on Wednesday, cautioning its citizens in Canada to exercise utmost care in light of the rising anti-India activities and what it referred to as "politically-condoned hate crimes." Indian students, in particular, have been advised to remain extremely vigilant.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar met a tragic end when he was gunned down in the parking lot of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia. Nijjar held a prominent role within the secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) in the province, which has squarely placed blame on India for his assassination.
A spokesperson for Canada's foreign ministry disclosed that some diplomats had received threats via social media platforms, explaining, "...Global Affairs Canada [the foreign ministry] is assessing its staff complement in India. As a result, and out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to temporarily adjust staff presence in India. All of our locations are staffed by diplomats and locally engaged staff to ensure business and operational continuity." Canada has also requested enhanced security measures for its missions, including the high commission in New Delhi and consulates in Mumbai, Chandigarh, and Bengaluru.
Citing the Vienna Convention, which safeguards diplomats and diplomatic premises, the spokesperson emphasized that Canada expects India to provide security for its accredited diplomats and consular officers, just as Canada does for Indian diplomats in Canada.
Security measures have been bolstered at India's missions in Canada in response to threats from SFJ, which included the dissemination of "Kill India" posters in July, followed by subsequent messages blaming New Delhi for Nijjar's assassination on June 18.
India has requested additional security for its high commission in Ottawa and consulates in Toronto and Vancouver, prompted by SFJ's threat to "shut down Indian missions" on September 25, characterizing them as "terror houses." SFJ, banned in India in 2019 due to its pro-Khalistan activities, has targeted Hindus of Indian origin and called for their departure from Canada, citing alleged support for their country of origin and the promotion of violence by celebrating Nijjar's killing.
