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A fourth person has been charged in the homicide of 45-year-old Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar at a temple in Surrey last year.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said 22-year-old Amandeep Singh was arrested Saturday. He has been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. He was already in custody for unrelated firearms charges.
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On May 3, IHIT investigators, with assistance of the B.C. and Alberta RCMP, and the Edmonton Police Service, arrested 22-year-old Karan Brar, 22-year-old Kamalpreet Singh, and 28-year-old Karanpreet Singh. All three were charged with first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
The three accused appeared in court on Tuesday. About 100 people demonstrated outside, waving flags and holding signs in support of carving an independent Sikh state, known as Khalistan, from India. Some carried signs featuring the faces of the three suspects and the words “Indian agents arrested.”
On Saturday, IHIT released a photo of Amandeep Singh in an effort to further advance the investigation. Photos of the other three accused were released on May 3.
Nijjar, who was a leading proponent of Khalistan, was gunned down as he left Surrey’s Guru Nanak Gurdwara after evening prayer. Members of the Sikhs for Justice immediately blamed the Indian government because Nijjar played a key role in the Sikh separatist movement.
India said it was informed Thursday by Canada about the arrests of the three Indian men, but said that no relevant information or specific evidence about Delhi’s involvement has been provided by Canadian authorities.
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India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesman, Randhir Jaiswal, said the two countries were discussing the issue. He accused Canada of providing shelter to those who are advocating violence against India. He said that Delhi had complained to the Canadian authorities that those associated with organized crime in India had been allowed entry and residency in Canada.
ticrawford@postmedia.com
With files from The Associated Press and Susan Lazaruk
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