Canada expels Indian diplomats after tying government agents to ‘serious criminal activity’

CNN . . Canada announced the expulsion of six Indian diplomats Monday, including the high commissioner, after the police accused agents of the Indian government of being linked to homicides, harassment and other acts of violence against Sikh separatists in the country.. . Canadas Minister of Foreign Affairs Mlanie Joly said in a Monday statement that the decision to expel the diplomats was made with great consideration and only after (Canadian police) gathered ample, clear and concrete evidence which identified six individuals as persons of interest in the Nijjar case.. ..

The extraordinary step has sharply escalated diplomatic tensions between the countries, with India swiftly expelling six Canadian diplomats in response, including the acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler, according to a statement from Indias Ministry of External Affairs.. . Relations between both countries hit rock bottom last year when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he had credible information linking the Indian government to the assassination on Canadian soil of prominent Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.. ..

During a Monday press conference, Trudeau accused the Indian government of making a fundamental error in thinking that they could engage in supporting criminal activity against Canadians here on Canadian soil, whether it be murders or extortion or other violent acts, is absolutely unacceptable for any country, any democracy, that upholds the rule of law.. ..

The decision to publicly disclose the investigations was taken due to the significant threat to public safety and after attempts to address the issue together with the Indian government had not yielded satisfactory results, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme told reporters.. . Duheme said that since September last year, there had been well over a dozen credible and imminent threats to the lives of members of the South Asian community, and specifically the pro-Khalistan movement, referring to a separatist movement among supporters of Sikh independence.. ..

He added that the RCMP had found evidence of violent extremism impacting both Canada and India; links tying agents of the government of India to homicides and violent acts in Canada; organized crime targeting Canadas South Asian community; and interference in democratic processes.. . Investigations have revealed that Indian diplomats and consular officials based in Canada leveraged their official positions to engage in clandestine activities, such as collecting information for the government of India, either directly or through their proxies; and other individuals who acted voluntarily or through coercion, he said.. ..

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