A recently released documentary has made explosive claims that British intelligence intercepts provided Canadian authorities with alleged evidence linking India to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023. The revelations come from Bloomberg Originals' 'Inside the Deaths that Rocked India's Relations with the West,' which details how intercepted communications formed the basis of Canadian allegations.
The Intelligence Breakthrough
According to the documentary, British intelligence agency GCHQ intercepted calls in July 2023 that appeared to show individuals discussing three potential targets on behalf of the Indian government. The intercepted conversations allegedly mentioned Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Avtar Singh Khanda, and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun as potential targets.
The intelligence breakthrough came when the UK obtained what the documentary describes as "relevant information" about the Nijjar murder investigation. This information was shared with Canadian authorities under strict conditions through the Five Eyes intelligence sharing agreement between the UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Strict Intelligence Sharing Protocols
The documentary reveals that the British intelligence was shared under extraordinary security measures. The files were hand-delivered to Ottawa and kept off electronic systems to prevent unauthorized access. Only a handful of Canadian officials, pre-approved by London, were permitted to view the sensitive intelligence.
"The file was a summary of conversations intercepted by a British intelligence agency between individuals who analysts believe were working on behalf of the Indian government," the documentary states. It further alleges that the intercepted communications included discussions about how Nijjar had been successfully eliminated after his killing.
India's Strong Denial and Diplomatic Fallout
India has consistently and strongly rejected the Canadian allegations, describing them as "absurd and motivated" and part of a deliberate strategy to smear India for political gains. The allegations triggered a major diplomatic crisis between the two nations in 2023.
The situation escalated when then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a statement in the Canadian Parliament alleging that Indian government agents were linked to Nijjar's murder. In response, India recalled its high commissioner and five other diplomats after Ottawa attempted to link them to the case. India also expelled an equal number of Canadian diplomats in a tit-for-tat move.
Recent Efforts to Repair Relations
Despite the serious allegations, relations between India and Canada have shown signs of improvement in recent months. The election victory of Liberal Party leader Mark Carney in April 2024 helped initiate a reset in bilateral ties.
In a significant development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the margins of the G7 summit at Kananaskis in Canada during June 2024. This was followed by both countries appointing envoys to each other's capitals in August 2024, signaling their commitment to repairing the damaged relationship.
The documentary has reignited discussions about the mysterious death of Avtar Singh Khanda, who died in June 2023 at a Birmingham hospital. While British authorities ruled there were "no suspicious circumstances" surrounding his death from blood cancer, the Sikh Federation UK has demanded answers about why intelligence from July 2023 wasn't shared when specifically requested by MPs representing the Sikh community.
