CHANDIGARH: Three years after a pro-khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in Canada, gangster Satinderjeet Singh alias Goldy Brar has claimed that he and his gang had a hand in the killing.
In the purported conversation with UK-based Khalistani terrorist Paramjit Singh Pamma, Brar allegedly says he and his associates killed Nijjar because he was supporting people involved in a drug network that exploited young people.
"Nijjar supported and strengthened these individuals who groomed and incited 16-to-17-year-olds to sell drugs, those who blackmailed young people into selling drugs and becoming informants. That is why we, my team and I, had to kill Nijjar. Everyone has to bear the consequences of what they have done," he was heard saying in the leaked audio.
Brar also alleged that Nijjar was involved in the illegal trade of weapons, which he cited as another reason behind his murder.
Meanwhile, Brar dismissed allegations that he had been involved in drug-related activities. "I have never dealt with chitta (drugs) and will never do so," he was heard saying. This leaked audio brings the gang rivalry and organised crime angle back into focus, with Brar claiming Nijjar's alleged links with a drug network and illegal weapons trade.
Earlier in July, following a major international law enforcement crackdown codenamed "Operation Hard Ball", the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said that Satinderjeet Singh (Goldy Brar) was wanted for his alleged involvement in the Lawrence Bishnoi Organized Crime Group which is allegedly engaged in a variety of violent acts in Southern California, and across the United States and Canada.
The investigation had indicted Brar and Lawrence Bishnoi for orchestrating the killing of ‘HSN’ (short for Nijjar), reframing the high-profile assassination as a gangland hit rather than a state-sponsored killing.
The probe also noted that a hit on Nijjar had been circulated for several weeks on an encrypted online site used to hire hitmen.
Last month the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Goldy Brar. "The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest of Satinderjeet Singh, wanted for his alleged involvement in the Lawrence Bishnoi Organised Crime Group, which is allegedly engaged in a variety of violent acts in Southern California and across the United States and Canada," it said in a post on X.
The National Investigation Agency announced a Rs 10 lakh cash reward in June 2024 for information leading to the arrest of designated terrorist Satwinderjit Singh, alias Goldy Brar, and his associate Gurpreet Singh (Goldy Dhillon) in connection with a Chandigarh extortion and firing case.
BJP spokeperson RP Singh questions Trudeau’s Nijjar allegations
The killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil triggered a major diplomatic crisis between India and Canada. Following the murder, former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused “Indian agents” of potentially being involved, saying Canadian intelligence was investigating a possible link between the killing and Indian operatives. India swiftly rejected the allegation as “absurd” and “motivated.”
The accusations plunged bilateral ties into one of their deepest crises in recent years, resulting in the expulsion of diplomats, suspension of bilateral engagements and a prolonged chill in relations.
Reacting to the latest developments, BJP national spokesperson RP Singh questioned Trudeau’s earlier allegations against India. Singh said that India had maintained from the outset that the Indian government had no role in Nijjar’s killing and questioned why the Trudeau government had publicly accused India before the investigation had established the facts.
Singh also raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the murder, including who planned it, who allegedly ordered it, who carried it out and what the motive was. He called for the investigation to be guided by evidence and urged the relevant investigative agencies to cooperate to identify the actual perpetrators and bring them to justice.