Canadian Border Officer Wanted In India Given Clean Chit Amid Terrorism Charges

New Delhi, India: A Canadian border official, who had been wanted by India on terrorism-related charges, has been cleared of any wrongdoing by his employer, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and reinstated to his post. Sandeep Singh Sidhu, also known as Sunny Toronto, had faced accusations from the Indian government of promoting terrorist activities and involvement in the murder of a Shaurya Chakra awardee in Punjab . 

The decision comes at a time of heightened diplomatic tensions between Canada and India, following the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. 

Sandeep Sidhu, who works as a border police official for CBSA, had been implicated by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a series of serious charges, including his alleged membership in the banned International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). The NIA also accused Sidhu of being linked to Khalistani separatist terror networks and Pakistan ’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). 

One of the most severe allegations against Sidhu was his involvement in the assassination of Balwinder Singh Sandhu, a Shaurya Chakra awardee, in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district in October 2020. The Indian government also added Sidhu to its list of fugitives sought for deportation, citing his role in the terror activities.

However, after a lengthy investigation, the Canada Border Services Agency has cleared Sidhu of the allegations and confirmed that he would resume his duties with the agency. According to reports, Sidhu’s lawyers have expressed frustration with Canada’s handling of the case, claiming that the Canadian government should have more vigorously defended him against what they describe as a “hostile disinformation campaign” by India.

The investigation and Sidhu’s subsequent reinstatement come amid an escalating diplomatic standoff between Canada and India. Relations between the two countries deteriorated sharply following the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Khalistani separatist, in British Columbia earlier this year. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused agents of the Indian government of being involved in Nijjar's killing, although he has not provided any concrete evidence to support the claim.

India has denied any involvement in Nijjar’s death, and the allegations have fueled growing tensions between the two countries. As a result, the timing of Sidhu’s reinstatement raises eyebrows, with some analysts suggesting that it may be linked to the broader geopolitical context of the dispute between India and Canada.

Sidhu’s defense team has been vocal in criticizing the way the Canadian government handled the allegations. They contend that the Canadian authorities failed to properly address the foreign accusations and protect Sidhu from what they view as an orchestrated campaign by India. 

“This is a case where the government of Canada should have defended him more vigorously against a foreign nation that was launching a hostile disinformation campaign,” one of Sidhu’s lawyers stated. They emphasized that Sidhu was presumed innocent until proven guilty, and any potential misconduct should be thoroughly examined without succumbing to international pressures.

The case of Sandeep Sidhu comes at a time when Canada has become a focal point for political and cultural debates surrounding the Khalistan movement, which seeks an independent Sikh state. While Canada officially recognizes the right of its citizens to express their political views, including support for the Khalistan cause, India views such activities as a threat to its national security.

In response to the tensions, Indian officials have repeatedly expressed concern over Canada’s growing tolerance of pro-Khalistan activities within its borders, further complicating the already fraught diplomatic relationship.