India-Canada Khalistani leader Nijjar killing row: India suspends visa service in Canada till further notice as diplomatic standoff continues
New Delhi/IBNS: Amid the ongoing diplomatic standoff between Ottawa and New Delhi over the alleged killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June, India has suspended visa services for Canadian nationals till further notice.
A notice by BLS International - an online visa application centre in India that provides visa consultancy services – posted on its website that reads, "Important notice from Indian Mission: Due to operational reasons, with effect from 21 September 2023, Indian visa services have been suspended till further notice. Please keep checking BLS website for further updates."
Relationship between New Delhi and Ottawa touched a new low after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged India's involvement in the killing of Nijjar.
Trudeau alleged that there are "credible allegations of a potential link" between Indian government agents and the killing of Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia of Canada.
Soon after Trudeau levelled the allegations against the Indian government in the country's Parliament, Canada’s foreign minister Mélanie Joly announced the expulsion of a “top Indian diplomat” as a consequence.
In a tit-for-tat, India also sacked a Canadian diplomat and asked him to leave the country within the next five days.
India rejected the allegations made by Canada over the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
"Similar allegations were made by the Canadian Prime Minister to our Prime Minister and were completely rejected," read the statement issued by the MEA.
Punjab gangster Sukhdool Singh killed in Canada
Meanwhile, reports have claimed Punjab gangster and alleged Khalistani sympathiser Sukhdool Singh aka Sukha Duneke of Davinder Bambiha gang has been killed in Canada's Winnipeg.
Sukhdool has been killed in a gang-rivalry much like how terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in June.
Reports say Sukhdool fled from India to Canada in 2017. He has seven criminal cases against his name.
Additional reporting by Suman Das/Toronto
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