NEW DELHI: India has urged Canada to extradite Khalistani terrorist Arsh Singh Gill, alias Arsh Dalla, following reports of his arrest on November 10. A case against him is listed for hearing in an Ontario court.
"Canadian print and visual media have widely reported on the arrest. We understand that the Ontario Court has listed the case for hearing," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Thursday.
"In view of the recent arrest, our agencies will be following up on an extradition request given Arsh Dalla’s criminal record in India and his involvement in similar illegal activities in Canada. It is expected that he will be extradited or deported to face justice in India," he added.
Dalla is a proclaimed offender in over 50 cases of murder, attempt to murder, extortion and terrorist attacks, including terror financing. In May 2022, a Red Corner Notice was issued against him.
He was designated in India as an individual terrorist in 2023. In July 2023, the Indian government had requested the Canadian government for his provisional arrest, which was declined.
Jaiswal said India had provided additional information in the case to the Canadian authorities.
A separate request was also sent to Canada under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) to verify Dalla’s suspected residential address, his financial transactions to India, moveable/immovable properties, details of mobile numbers, etc., all of which were provided to Canadian authorities in January 2023.
"In December 2023, the Department of Justice of Canada sought additional information on the case. A reply to these queries was sent in March 2024," Jaiswal added.
Dalla had come to Canada from Punjab in 2018 and lived in Surrey as per a report in Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper, which said he is the reported head of the Dalla Lakhbir gang, accused of using Canada as a base for a violent extortion ring in Punjab.
The MEA's request comes amid tensions between India and Canada, with India denying allegations of involvement in the killing of Nijjar.
