The suspects accused of murdering B.C. Sikh temple leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, including Karan Brar, entered Canada on study permits obtained through EthicWorks Immigration Services in India. Brar posted a video online in 2019 stating that he received his study visa in a few days through the service. He began studying at Bow Valley College in Calgary in 2020. Brar, along with two other suspects, were arrested in Edmonton and appeared in court in Surrey to face murder and conspiracy charges. Nijjar was a prominent leader in the Khalistan movement, which seeks independence for India’s Sikh-majority Punjab state.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has suggested possible links between the suspects and agents of the Indian government, a claim India has denied. The arrests have raised questions about the immigration status of the suspects, particularly as Canada has seen a surge in foreign students. The government has imposed restrictions on the student visa system, citing abuse and overcrowding issues. EthicWorks Immigration Services, which helped Brar obtain his visa, continues to attract international students despite the new regulations. The company has offices in India and Canada, and its directors are members of a federal regulatory body for immigration consultants.
The arrest of the suspects has strained relations between Canada and India, particularly in the context of the release of the interim report of the public inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian elections. The report suggests that Indian proxy agents may have attempted to meddle in Canadian elections by providing illicit financial support to pro-India candidates. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service has identified India, along with China, Russia, and Iran, as major perpetrators of foreign interference and espionage in Canada. Before Trudeau’s statement about India’s possible involvement in the murder, Canadian officials had traveled to India to discuss the matter.
The investigation into Nijjar’s murder is ongoing, with the RCMP looking into potential involvement of the Indian government. The suspects, all of whom are Indian citizens living in Edmonton, face charges related to the shooting of Nijjar in the parking lot of a Sikh temple in Surrey. The arrests have highlighted the need for stricter immigration policies to address overcrowding and abuse in the student visa system. EthicWorks Immigration Services, the agency that helped Brar obtain his visa, continues to promote its services for international students. The company’s directors are licensed immigration consultants and aim to guide clients through the visa and immigration process effectively.
