Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner, Brian Edwards,, speaks to the media at RCMP Headquarters after three men were arrested on Friday for the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. — AFP picMONTREAL, May 5 — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today acknowledged fear in Canada’s Sikh community but underscored the “rule of law” after three arrests in connection with last year’s killing of a Sikh separatist in Vancouver.
Speaking Saturday at a gala in Toronto to celebrate Sikh heritage and culture, Trudeau acknowledged that many in Canada’s Sikh community are “feeling uneasy, and perhaps even frightened right now,” but urged faith in the justice system. Three Indian nationals, two aged 22 and one aged 28, were arrested Friday on first-degree murder and conspiracy charges.Police said they were still investigating the ties of the suspects, “if any, to the Indian government,” and whether others may have been involved.
Trudeau announced several months later that Canada had “credible allegations” linking Indian intelligence to the killing and expelled an Indian official, touching off a diplomatic tit-for-tat with New Delhi.