Canada expels Indian diplomats after tying government agents to 'serious criminal activity'

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World / Americas

Canada expels Indian diplomats after tying government agents to ‘serious criminal activity’

By Hanna Ziady, Paula Newton and Tara John, CNN
5 minute read
Updated 5:29 PM EDT, Mon October 14, 2024


The High Commission of India in Canada is seen in Ottawa, Ontario, on Oct. 14, 2024. Justin Tang/The Canadian Press/AP

(CNN) — Canada announced the expulsion of six Indian diplomats Monday, including the high commissioner, after the police accused agents of the Indian government of being linked to homicides, harassment and other “acts of violence” against Sikh separatists in the country.

Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly said in a Monday statement that the decision to expel the diplomats “was made with great consideration and only after (Canadian police) gathered ample, clear and concrete evidence which identified six individuals as persons of interest in the Nijjar case.”

The extraordinary step has sharply escalated diplomatic tensions between the countries, with India swiftly expelling six Canadian diplomats in response, including the acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler, according to a statement from India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

Relations between both countries hit rock bottom last year when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he had credible information linking the Indian government to the assassination on Canadian soil of prominent Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

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