New Delhi: In a major crackdown on Khalistani elements, Canadian police have arrested three separatists including Inderjeet Singh Gosal, a close aide of proscribed terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on firearms-related charges.
The arrests were made during a traffic stop operation on September 19 on Highway 407 near Harmony Road in Oshawa, Ontario. The accused — 36-year-old Gosal from Caledon, 41-year-old Jagdeep Singh from Pickville, New York (USA), and 23-year-old Arman Singh from Toronto were presented before the Ontario Court of Justice in Oshawa on Monday.
According to police, the trio has been charged with multiple offences, including careless use of a firearm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and carrying a concealed weapon. Authorities said the arrests are part of an ongoing investigation, and the accused may face additional charges that could carry prison terms.
Gosal is considered the right-hand man of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the US-based founder of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). Following the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023, Gosal emerged as a key organiser for SFJ’s Canadian operations.
He was previously arrested in November 2024 by Peel Regional Police after a violent clash at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton, but was later released on conditional bail.
The arrests mark a significant shift in Canada’s approach towards Khalistani separatist groups, long accused by New Delhi of using Canadian soil to incite violence against India.
The action comes just a day after Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met his Canadian counterpart Nathalie Drouin in New Delhi. During the talks, Doval reportedly pressed Ottawa to take firm steps against Khalistani operatives involved in anti-India activities and conspiracies to wage war against the Indian state.
The move is being seen as a positive step towards easing strained diplomatic relations between India and Canada, which have been tense since the killing of Nijjar in 2023 and the subsequent war of words between the two nations.
