No evidence shared by Canada: Intel officials

Canada has not shared any evidence with India, at any level, on the possible involvement of Indian intelligence agencies in the murder of Surrey-based Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Nijjar, top Indian security officials said.

- Shishir Gupta

According to the officials, who asked not to be named, neither Ottawa nor Washington DC shared any intelligence on the killing of the Khalistan Tiger Force chief Nijjar with New Delhi in the run-up to the G-20 summit in Delhi. Canadian National Security Advisor Jody Thomas met the Indian intelligence chief and her Indian counterpart before the G-20 summit, but she did not share any evidence pointing to the involvement of India in Nijjar's killing, the officials added.

It is not clear whether the issue was raised at all. The Financial Times reported that the US, the UK and Canada did raise the issue separately with New Delhi during the summit.

"Credible allegation is an oxymoron," said one of the officials, referencing the language used by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau when he first mentioned the issue last week. And since then too, the officials added, no evidence has been shared.

"No credible evidence has been shared through either the diplomatic or the intelligence channel with India. Since India has nothing to do with Nijjar's murder, it is ready to provide assistance provided Canada moves the legitimate legal process and prosecution of the identified killer or killers," added this official.