British intelligence intercepts played a pivotal role in connecting Indian agents to the 2023 murder of prominent Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, according to a new investigative documentary.
The film, titled Inside the Deaths that Rocked India’s Relations with the West and produced by Bloomberg Originals, reveals that signals intelligence from the United Kingdom’s Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ)—the nation’s premier eavesdropping agency—provided Canadian investigators with key evidence. These intercepts allegedly captured discussions among individuals believed to be acting for the Indian government, outlining plans against three high-profile figures.
Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and vocal advocate for Khalistan independence who was labeled a terrorist by India in 2020 over his separatist activities, topped the list of targets. The others were Avtar Singh Khanda, a U.K.-based Sikh activist, and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a U.S.-based lawyer and Khalistan supporter similarly designated as a terrorist by New Delhi.
The breakthrough came in late July 2023, mere weeks after Nijjar’s fatal shooting outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18. Under the stringent protocols of the Five Eyes alliance—encompassing the U.K., U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand—the sensitive material was hand-delivered to Ottawa. To safeguard its secrecy, the dossier bypassed digital networks entirely, accessible only to a select group of pre-vetted Canadian officials approved by London.
As detailed in the documentary, the file comprised a digest of intercepted communications. It reportedly included exchanges about surveilling the trio, followed by confirmation that Nijjar had been “successfully eliminated.” Khanda, 40, passed away the same month in a Birmingham hospital from advanced blood cancer; U.K. authorities dismissed any foul play despite community suspicions. Pannun, speaking under heavy security in the film, expressed ongoing fears for his safety.
ALSO READ : Trump Escalates Trade War with Canada: 10% Tariff Hike Follows Fury Over Reagan Ad
The disclosures have reignited scrutiny in the U.K. Sikh Federation UK has urged Security Minister Dan Jarvis to explain why intelligence from July 2023—potentially linked to Khanda’s demise—remains undisclosed, even after parliamentary queries from Sikh representatives.
The Nijjar case has strained India-Canada ties since former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s 2023 parliamentary address, where he cited “credible allegations” of Indian involvement, prompting a fierce backlash from New Delhi. India dismissed the claims as “absurd and motivated,” accusing Ottawa of a smear campaign for domestic political advantage. The fallout led to mutual expulsions: In October 2024, India withdrew its high commissioner and five diplomats, matched by Canada’s recall of an equivalent number.
Relations began thawing after Liberal leader Mark Carney’s April 2025 election win. That June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Carney on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta. By August, both nations had named new envoys to each other’s capitals, marking a tentative step toward normalization.
-
-
-
-
