The three Indian nationals charged with the murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June appeared Tuesday morning in British Columbia Provincial Court in Surrey. All three defendants face charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
About 50 supporters and family members of the activist gathered outside the court, carrying yellow and blue pro-Khalistan flags and signs, some of which bore the faces of the accused, who were arrested in Edmonton last week.
None of the accusations have yet been proven in court.
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Supporters of Hardeep Singh Nijjar demonstrated outside the Surrey courthouse.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Ben Nelms
The murder sparked major diplomatic tensions between Canada and India, after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of playing a role in the killing, which the state denied.
India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, is expected to speak publicly on Tuesday, a first since the arrests. He will address the Council on Foreign Relations in Montreal on the topic of current and future relations between India and Canada.
Police, who announced the arrests last week, said the investigation into a possible link to the Indian government continues.
At least two of the three alleged hitmen will appear again on May 21 by videoconference.
