Toronto. Khalistani fundamentalists have threatened to kill the head of an Indo-Canadian organization in British Columbia. The reason behind this threat is said to be a reception organized last month in honor of the High Commissioner of India in Ottawa. In this regard, the person has complained to the local law enforcement. In a letter to the interim commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Maninder Gill, president of the Surrey, BC-based Friends of Canada and India Foundation, said he was “repeatedly receiving death threats.” From where the threats are being received, he told the area mobile number code 778. He has written in the letter, ‘They are threatening me that I will meet the same fate as Ripudaman Singh Malik who was shot dead in Surrey.’
Malik, who was acquitted by the Canadian judiciary in 2005 in the Air India Kanishka bombing case in 1985, was shot by assailants outside his Surrey office on the morning of July 14 last year. He died a few weeks after his visit to India. The broad daylight attack has given rise to speculation that the attack may be significantly linked to Malik’s past and his changed stand on Khalistani separatism in recent years.
In January 2022, he wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, praising him for reopening the 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases and other initiatives taken by him, and calling on the community to abandon the demand for a separate Khalistan. Also issued an open letter to
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Gill, a media personality by profession, was the main organizer of the event held on March 19 at a conference center in Surrey. India’s High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma was supposed to attend the reception, but about 200 protesters gathered there, some of whom also had swords in their hands. Due to this, Verma did not participate in this program.
Gill said he has lodged a complaint with the Surrey detachment of the RCMP in this regard and has been informed that the threat is being investigated.
In the letter, he also wrote, “I wonder what is my fault that I have to bear such attacks, abuse and death threats? I was only conducting a peaceful public function.”
He told that Canada released an Indo-Pacific strategy “to improve relations with India”. That document, released in November, described India as an “important partner” in the region. He said, “Every time I step out of my house, my life is in danger because of Khalistani fundamentalists. Please look into this situation and ensure that the Indo-Canadian community in Canada can live peacefully and the rule of law is restored in Surrey city.
He had also emailed the office of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in this matter. He was told in response that the “comments” would be “carefully reviewed” and forwarded to Public Safety Minister Marco Mendocino.
Gill also said that other members of the organizing committee of the reception have also received death threats. He said, “Many others have also received threats, but they are afraid to come forward.”