Indian intelligence agencies are closely tracking reports of the potential arrest of Arsh Dalla, a significant figure in the Khalistani separatist movement, in Canada. However, Canadian officials have not yet confirmed or shared any details about Dalla’s arrest with their Indian counterparts. Dalla, who became the leader of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) following the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, has been implicated in various violent activities and remains a high-value target for Indian authorities. The killing of Nijjar last year, which Canada alleges involved Indian government agents—a claim India strongly refutes—has already strained diplomatic relations between the two countries, and Dalla’s possible arrest could have further implications for this tense dynamic.
Arsh Dalla’s influence within the Khalistani movement extends beyond Indian borders, with an operational reach that spans multiple continents. Known for orchestrating targeted killings in Punjab through a well-coordinated sleeper cell network, Dalla has been directly linked to numerous violent incidents. These include the 2022 murder of Manohar Lal, a member of the Dera Sacha Sauda, and the assassination of a Congress leader in Punjab, an act for which Dalla openly claimed responsibility on social media. His role in escalating violence has only intensified since Nijjar’s death, underscoring his aggressive approach to advancing the separatist agenda of the KTF. This militant outfit, originally founded in 2011 by Jagtar Singh Tara—a former member of the Babbar Khalsa International who was involved in the 1995 assassination of Punjab’s Chief Minister Beant Singh—has increasingly become a central player in the violent campaign for an independent Khalistan.
Dalla’s vast terror network, with support believed to be from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), operates internationally in regions including Canada, the United States, Dubai, Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia such as the Philippines and Thailand. His collaboration with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a Pakistan-based militant group, has raised additional security concerns, as Dalla is reportedly involved in smuggling arms from Pakistan into Punjab using drones, a tactic that further complicates the security situation. His influence and capability extend to horrific acts of violence, as seen in the beheading of a Hindu youth in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area—a killing that he allegedly organized and subsequently received a video of through his sleeper cell network.
In Canada, Dalla’s criminal enterprise has engaged in bitter turf wars with other prominent gangs, most notably the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. This violent rivalry escalated to a tragic climax in 2023, when members of the Bishnoi gang allegedly broke into the home of Sukhdul Singh, known as Sukha Dunike—a close associate of Dalla—in Winnipeg, Canada, and fatally shot him. These gang conflicts have added a complex layer to the violent landscape among Indian-origin gangsters residing in Canada, highlighting the internal factionalism and hostility that further destabilize Indian diaspora communities abroad.
Dalla has also leveraged social media as a tool to extend his reach and influence among young Indians. He reportedly targets youth from Punjab and Haryana, enticing them with promises of assistance in emigrating abroad, particularly to Canada. However, intelligence sources indicate that these recruits are often manipulated into participating in terror activities back in India, with Dalla exploiting their aspirations to further his violent separatist goals.
Canada has faced sustained diplomatic pressure from India to extradite individuals like Dalla and other Khalistani separatists suspected of instigating violence within India from Canadian soil. The presence of these extremists, who are alleged to be involved in plotting and orchestrating attacks on Indian soil, has emerged as a contentious point in India-Canada relations. The Indian government has repeatedly expressed frustration over the perceived lack of cooperation from Canadian authorities in addressing the activities of Khalistani groups operating within Canada, which, India asserts, are a direct threat to its national security.
The impact of these events on India-Canada relations is significant. With the arrest of Dalla potentially shifting the balance, Indian authorities are hopeful that Canada might take a more proactive stance in addressing extremist activities that affect India's security. Dalla’s activities have exposed the broader challenges that India faces in tackling separatist violence supported by international networks, and his potential arrest could bring renewed focus on the importance of bilateral cooperation in combating terrorism.
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