Canada Confirms Arrest of Arsh Dalla; CBSA Defends Official

Canadian authorities have confirmed they have arrested Arshdeep Singh Gill, alias Arsh Dalla. Dalla is alleged by India to have ties to the banned Khalistan Tiger Force, and a supposed associate of slain Sikh separatist, Hardeep Singh Nijar. He is linked to over 50 cases related to murder, extortion, and terrorism – including terror financing, in India (SDW Vol 2 Issue 43, Story 5). Arrested last month in Halton, Ontario, after a shooting incident, Dalla and his associate Gurjant Singh were found with firearms during a search of their vehicle and residence. India has submitted an extradition request and is pursuing verification of his financial activities. Dalla remains in custody in Canada, awaiting a bail hearing. Panjab police have also arrested the key accused in the Mansa grenade attack on the night of 26 Oct, allegedly orchestrated by Dalla. On 16 Nov, Panjab Police, in a joint operation with Maharashtra Police, arrested Akash Singh Gill, a resident of Pakka Chishti in Fazilka district, Panjab, in connection with the murder of Nationalist Congress Party leader Baba Siddique in Mumbai. Indian media initially reported that Anmol Bishnoi – Lawrence Bishnoi’s younger brother, and suspect in Siddique’s murder – had been arrested for unrelated reasons in California earlier, however there is no confirmation of his detention status. Gill was identified as an associate of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Meanwhile, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) superintendent Sundeep ‘Sunny’ Singh Sidhu has been cleared by the CBSA after being targeted by allegations from Indian media linking him to terrorism and murder in Panjab. Former Canadian Security Intelligence Service director Dick Fadden commented that while such allegations necessitate investigation, the govt. should protect its employees from baseless foreign interference.