India has suspended issuing visas to Canadian citizens "until further notice" on Thursday, according to a notice from BLS International, a private agency hired to review visa applications of Canadian citizens. The suspension comes amid an ongoing dispute between India and Canada, with Ottawa claiming to have "credible evidence" linking agents in New Delhi to the assassination of pro-Khalistani Sikh terrorist Hardeep SinghNijjar. However, the Indian government has denied the allegation, calling it "unsubstantiated and motivated". It is unclear if the suspension of visa issuance is related to the dispute.
On Monday, more than a month after Nijjar’s murder, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country’s intelligence services have evidence that “agents of the Indian Government” killed the Canadian citizen. India "completely rejected" the allegations regarding its involvement in Nijjar's death and underlined its concerns over their (Canada's) political figures openly expressing sympathy for "such elements".
According to reports, another gang-related killing is suspected in Canada. Duneke was killed in a cross-border gang war in Canada. Duneke belonged to the 'Khalistan movement' in Canada. Sukhdool Singh alias 'Sukha Duneke', who fled to Canada from Punjab on forged documents in 2017, was shot dead by assailants in Winnipeg on Wednesday. Duneke's name was on the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) wanted list.
India's foreign ministry said on Wednesday that it issued a travel advisory for its citizens in Canada due to an increase in anti-India activities, politically condoned hate crimes, and criminal violence. The Indian government has often reacted strongly to demands from Sikh separatists in Western countries for an independent Sikh homeland called Khalistan, BBC reported
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