India will seek the extradition of pro-Khalistan terrorist Arsh Dalla from Canada

“Given Arsh Dalla’s criminal record in India and his involvement in similar illegal activities in Canada, it is expected that he will be extradited or deported to face justice in India,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. File | Photo credit: PTI

In light of the recent arrest of a pro-Khalistan terrorist Arshdeep Singh Gillalias Arsh Dalla, by Canadian police in Ontario, Indian authorities would act on an extradition request, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday (Nov 14, 2024).

“Given Arsh Dalla’s criminal record in India and his involvement in similar illegal activities in Canada, it is expected that he will be extradited or deported to face justice in India,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

Replying to a query on the matter, Mr. Jaiswal said in a statement: “We have seen reports circulating in the media since November 10 about the arrest in Canada of proclaimed perpetrator Arsh Singh Gill alias Arsh Dalla, the de facto leader of the Khalistan Tiger. Power (KTF). Canadian print and visual media extensively reported the arrest. It is our understanding that the Ontario Court of Justice has listed the matter for hearing.”

He said Arsh Dalla is a declared perpetrator in more than 50 cases of murder, attempted murder, extortion and terrorist acts, including terrorist financing. A red notice was issued against him in May 2022. He was designated by the Union Home Ministry as a “individual terrorist” in January 2023. In July 2023, the Indian government had requested the Canadian counterpart for his provisional arrest, but this was rejected. In that case, additional information was provided.

“A separate request was also sent to Canada under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) to verify Arsh Dalla’s alleged residential address, his financial transactions to India, movable/immovable properties, mobile number details, etc. – all of which were provided to Canadian authorities in January 2023. In December 2023, Canada’s Department of Justice sought additional information on the case. A response to these queries was sent in March this year,” Mr Jaiswal said.

Arsh Dalla was a close aide of the then KTF chief Hardeep Singh Nijjarwho was shot by unknown assailants in the parking lot of a gurudwara in Surrey, Canada, on June 18, 2023. He subsequently took over the outfit’s operations.

The suspect is also associated with the banned terrorist group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and has been involved in smuggling arms, ammunition, explosives and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from across Pakistan for other banned groups such as Babbar Khalsa International and Khalistan Liberation Force. and the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is investigating him in several cases and has also arrested several of his aides in the recent past.