Killed Khalistani leader Nijjar underwent training in Pakistan, planned terror attacks in India: Dossier

New Delhi: A dossier prepared by Indian intelligence agencies has revealed the extensive involvement of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in training, financing, and operationalizing his outfit on Canadian soil.

Nijjar, whose recent killing sparked a diplomatic row between India and Canada, had managed to evade authorities for years, carrying out his nefarious activities with impunity.

According to the India Today TV report, the dossier paints a detailed picture of Nijjar's journey from a fugitive in India to a key figure in the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) in Canada. Nijjar, who had escaped to Canada in 1996 using a fake passport, initially lived a low-profile life working as a truck driver and plumber.

However, beneath this façade, he was actively organizing violent anti-India protests and even threatening Indian diplomats.

The dossier also shed light on Nijjar's deep-rooted connection with Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI. He is said to have undergone training in Pakistan with assistance from the ISI, which radicalized and groomed him, providing arms and explosives training in 2012 and 2013, according to the dossier.

Nijjar's association with Jagtar Singh Tara, the assassin of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, solidified his position within the Khalistani terrorist network, it said.

Nijjar was reportedly instrumental in organizing arms training camps in Canada, where individuals were trained to handle weapons like AK-47s, sniper rifles, and pistols. The dossier also alleges that he sent individuals to India to carry out targeted killings and attacks against political and religious figures.

The dossier implicates him in various terror attacks, including the 2010 Patiala bomb blast, where he provided financial assistance.

Nijjar's terror links also extended to his involvement in motivating individuals to carry out attacks on religious and political figures in Punjab. His role in radicalizing individuals and providing financial incentives for carrying out such attacks reveals the sinister nature of his operations.

Nijjar had planned a terrorist attack on the Dera Sacha Sauda in Sirsa in 2014 but was thwarted due to visa issues, claimed the dossier.

The dossier further links Nijjar to the banned terrorist organization Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), indicating his involvement in a broader network of Khalistani extremists. The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs designated him in July 2020, and the National Investigative Agency (NIA) had announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to his capture.