Canada issues appeals to Sikhs amid growing diplomatic tensions with India | Read in detail
'If people come forward, we can help them... People come to Canada to feel safe, and our job as law enforcement is to ensure they live in a safe environment,' says Mike Duheme
India-Canada tensions: The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Commissioner, Mike Duheme, has called on Sikhs living in Canada to come forward if they have any concerns or information, emphasising that the authorities are there to assist them. In an interview with Radio-Canada, Mike Duheme said, "If people come forward, we can help them, and I ask them to come forward if they can. People come to Canada to feel safe, and our job as law enforcement is to ensure they live in a safe environment."
The head of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is urging members of the Sikh community to come forward with information as police investigate allegations of the Indian government's involvement in a campaign of violence on Canadian soil.
In a public statement, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme accused agents of the Indian government of being connected to widespread violent activities in Canada, including homicides. Duheme alleged that Indian diplomats and consular officials in Canada were linked to incidents of murder, extortion, intimidation, and coercion targeting Canadians and residents in the country.
Duheme emphasised the need for the RCMP to address these threats to public safety, stating that the national force had to take action to disrupt the networks operating in Canada. He urged anyone with relevant information to come forward, offering assurance that the RCMP would assist those who do so. "People come to Canada to feel safe, and our duty as law enforcement is to ensure a safe environment for everyone," he said during a Tuesday interview with Radio-Canada.
The investigation has prompted a diplomatic response, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing the expulsion of six Indian diplomats from Canada. According to Trudeau, this action followed New Delhi’s refusal to cooperate in criminal investigations related to alleged violence and coercion by Indian agents. “The Indian government made a grave mistake in believing they could support criminal activities against Canadians on our soil,” Trudeau remarked.
When asked about the safety of the Indian diaspora in Canada, Duheme expressed hope that the community would maintain trust and confidence in law enforcement. Assistant RCMP Commissioner Brigitte Gauvin, speaking during Monday’s briefing, revealed that eight persons have been charged with homicide in Canada, while 22 others face extortion charges.
Tensions between the two countries initially surged last year when Trudeau claimed that Canada had evidence linking Indian agents to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh separatist leader. India has firmly denied these allegations, further complicating diplomatic ties between the two nations.
The tensions between Indian and Canada were triggered by Ottawa's allegations that agents of the Indian government were involved in the June 2022 killing of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
India has described these allegations as "unsubstantiated" and attributing them to "vote-bank politics" in Canada, especially with national elections approaching next year.