Ottawa: Khalistani terrorist Inderjit Singh Gosal, a key aide of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has been arrested in Canada. Gosal became a key Canadian organiser for US-based Khalistani outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) after the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023.
He was reportedly detained on multiple charges related to firearms possession in Ottawa. His arrest came after New Delhi raised concerns over extremist activities targeting India. It is seen as a notable departure from Canada's earlier permissive outlook towards separatist groups operating on its soil under the cover of free speech
The move came as India and Canada resumed their normal diplomatic operations last month by reappointing their high commissioners to Ottawa and New Delhi, respectively.
This is the second time the 36-year-old was arrested by Canadian police in under a year. He was taken into custody last year in November in connection with a violent incident at a Hindu temple in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), where he allegedly attacked Hindu-Canadian worshippers. However, he was granted a conditional release by Peel Regional Police (PRP).
At the time, officials said Gosal was acting as the principal organiser of the so-called Khalistan referendum in Canada.
Gosal is considered as right-hand man of Khalistani terrorist Pannun, the designated terrorist and chief of Sikh For Justice (SJF), a banner organisation in India. He has also served as Pannun's personal security officer (PSO).
Pannun, a dual US-Canadian citizen, originally hails from Punjab. He was declared an "individual terrorist" in July 2020 by India's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), a year after his organisation was declared a terrorist outfit by the Indian government.
Authorities have registered more than 100 cases against the SFJ and Pannun, with around 60 in Punjab alone.
