Ottawa: Canadian authorities on September 22 have arrested Inderjit Singh Gosal, 36-year-old activist of banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) group and close aide to designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, on multiple charges related to the possession of unlicensed firearms.
Notably, the arrest took place in Ottawa. Gosal is a resident of Brampton, Ontario, was arrested by the Peel Police along with two associates while traveling from Brampton to Ottawa, for possession of unlicensed firearms. All three individuals remain in custody and are expected to face formal charges and possible jail time.
The separatist group, Sikhs for Justice has also confirmed that its Canadian coordinator for the so-called Khalistan Referendum Inderjeet Singh Gosal has been taken into custody by Canadian police.
Earlier, in a statement issued on September 22, SFJ said that “the arrest of Inderjeet Singh Gosal on firearms charges is in fact a case about the Canadian Government’s duty to protect the life of a Canadian citizen who is facing imminent and grave threat to his life from Indian Government.”
The arrest comes as Canada’s new leadership under Prime Minister Mark Carney has sought to mend ties with India.
It is to be noted that, Gosal’s arrest comes just days after a meeting between India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his Canadian counterpart, Nathalie G. Drouin on September 19 where both India-Canada committed to enhanced cooperation on counter-terrorism and transnational crime. Gosal was among those charged by Canadian police last year after the violent attack on the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton in November 3, 2024.
“We discussed our respective security concerns and committed to non-interference including refraining from transnational repression. We also agreed on the importance of reciprocal exchange of information and mutual responsiveness,” Drouin said in a statement after the meeting.
Reportedly, Indian agencies provided, Canadian agencies with detailed dossiers on Gosal, linking him directly to Pannun.
Notably, earlier also Gosal arrested by Canadian police on November 12, 2024 in connection with a violent incident at a Hindu temple in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The incident, took place at Brampton’s Hindu Sabha Mandir saw Khalistani mob holding a demonstration near the temple to mark the 40th anniversary of the Sikh riots, attacked several Hindu devotees as tensions escalated into violence. India strongly responded to the incident with Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemning the “deliberate attack” and “cowardly attempts to intimidate our diplomats”. The incident also drew widespread international criticism directed at Canada.
Gosal rose to prominence following the killing of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18, 2023 in Surrey, British Columbia.
Three months later then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated in the House of Commons there were “credible allegations” of a potential link between Indian agents and the murder.
India replied to those accusations as “absurd” and “motivated” which led to strained bilateral relations between India and Canada and led to mutual diplomat expulsions. After Nijjar’s death, Gosal was appointed as the Canadian coordinator for SFJ’s referendum campaign for organising rallies and providing personal security to Pannun.
