Posted at 14:3814:38
A spokesperson from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's homicide team says that their inquiry into the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar is a "priority investigation".
In an statement to the BBC, the Integrated Homicide Investigative Team (IHIT) spokesperson says that they will "continue to work closely with our local, provincial and national police agencies and partners in order to advance this investigation".
They added they could not discuss anything more specific at the moment, and urged anyone with information to contact the IHIT.
Posted at 14:2414:24
Reuters Copyright: Reuters
Trudeau and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shaking hands at the G20 summit earlier this month Image caption: Trudeau and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shaking hands at the G20 summit earlier this month In case you're just joining us or would like a refresh, here is what has been happening today.
A row between India and Canada has escalated after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested in parliament that India may have been involved in the killing of a Canadian citizen in Canada Canada expelled an Indian diplomat from the country, and Delhi soon followed suit by expelling a Canadian official The row centres around the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot dead outside a Sikh temple on 18 June in British Columbia India has firmly rejected Canada's allegations, calling them "absurd". It added Canada had provided refuge to "Khalistani terrorists and extremists" who threatened India's security Trudeau insisted Canada was "not looking to provoke India", but urged Delhi to take the matter seriously The US state department says it is "quite concerned" over the murder allegations, and urged Delhi to co-operate with a "full and open investigation" Nijjar had publicly campaigned for Khalistan - the creation of an independent Sikh homeland in the Punjab region of India
Posted at 13:5213:52
US officials have urged India to co-operate with an investigation into allegations the Indian government was involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader.
The US has been in close contact with Canada over the accusation, a senior state department official said.
"We're quite concerned about the allegations. We think it's important there is a full and open investigation and we would urge the Indian government to co-operate with that investigation," the official added.
Posted at 13:4513:45
More now from Trudeau.
He says the Indian government needs to "take this matter with the utmost seriousness".
"We are doing that, we are not looking to provoke or escalate," he told reporters.
Posted at 13:4313:43
We're now getting some more comments from Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Trudeau says the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada is "extremely serious".
We'll bring you more from Trudeau as we get it.
Posted at 13:3213:32
Sachin Gogoi
BBC Monitoring
Indian media love to hate the Canadian prime minister.
During a recent visit to Delhi in India for the G20 Summit, media coverage of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was harsh - to put it mildly.
Media criticised and lampooned Trudeau for a host of reasons - from his tense meeting with Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to a technical snag in his aircraft that forced him to extend his stay in the Indian capital by 36 hours.
There seems to be a general agreement in India’s news media that Trudeau has been responsible for a downslide in India-Canada ties because of his alleged support for the Sikh separatists.
India and Canada’s expulsions of each other’s diplomats following Trudeau’s allegation of India’s “potential” involvement in the killing of a prominent Sikh separatist figure has only resulted in more criticism.
A report by leading Hindi news channel Aaj Tak said Trudeau’s allegation was not surprising “given he is in power with support from Khalistan supporters”.
Similarly, a report on the website of the prominent Hindustan Times daily said Trudeau’s comments would “ further damage bilateral relations which are already at an all-time low”.
Posted at 13:1113:11
Zoya Mateen
Reporting from Delhi
Security has been stepped up outside the Canadian high commission in Delhi.
Earlier today, the Indian government expelled a senior Canadian diplomat and gave him five days to leave the country after Canada expelled Indian diplomat Pavan Kumar Rai over the case.
Since then, authorities have deployed several police officers and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) outside the commission building, which is located in the heart of the capital city.
All has been quiet so far – and there have been no reports of protests breaking out in and around the complex, but authorities do not want to take chances and have tightened security to prevent any incidents.
Read more about the reaction in India here.
Posted at 12:5212:52
Ashitha Nagesh
BBC News Community Affairs Correspondent
A little bit more now about the death of Sikh separatist activist Avtar Singh Khanda, who died on 15 June in Birmingham, West Midlands, following a sudden illness.
In the UK, some groups are repeating calls for an investigation into his death.
He was said to be the head of the Khalistan Liberation Force, which the Indian government has proscribed as a terrorist organisation.
Some British-Sikh supporters of the Khalistan movement are saying that, in light of the allegations from the Canadian government around the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, UK authorities should look into Khanda's death as well.
As I mentioned earlier, West Midlands Police at the time said there were no suspicious circumstances in Khanda's death, and confirmed to me again today they would not be opening an investigation.
The campaign for a separate Sikh state, known as Khalistan, is a highly contentious issue within the Sikh community in the UK.
Sikh PA Copyright: Sikh PA
The ashes of Avtar Singh Khanda, who died in June, arriving in Punjab earlier this month Image caption: The ashes of Avtar Singh Khanda, who died in June, arriving in Punjab earlier this month
Posted at 12:3112:31
Like Canada and the UK, Australia has a sizeable Sikh population and has now reacted to Trudeau's allegations of there being "credible intelligence" of a possible link between the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar and the Indian state.
A spokesperson for Australia's Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, says that Australia is "deeply concerned" by the allegations "and notes the ongoing investigations into this matter".
"We are closely engaged with partners on developments. We have conveyed our concerns at senior levels to India," the spokesperson says.
Posted at 12:1012:10
Aleem Maqbool
Religion editor
In Britain, Sikh organisations have expressed outrage that even after a UN working group called for the immediate release of Jagtar Johal, a pro-Khalistan and Sikh rights activist from Dumbarton, the UK government has failed to ask that he be set free.
Johal has been held in an Indian prison for more than six years without trial, accused of extremist activities, but says he has been tortured and forced to sign a confession. Human rights group Reprieve says it has evidence that his arrest came (while he was in India to get married) after a tip-off from British intelligence agencies.
Last month, the British government announced new funding to respond to “pro-Khalistan extremism”. Even prominent British Sikhs opposed to the Khalistan movement, who may have faced intimidation because of their stance, say there is little evidence that the activism among Sikhs in the UK strays into what constitutes “extremism”.
They have warned that the Indian government’s focus on suppressing Khalistan support has been counterproductive, and is leading young Sikhs in an otherwise peaceful community, to explore a movement that had been on the decline.
Posted at 11:4811:48
Britain will continue trade negotiations with India despite "serious allegations" that the Indian government may be linked to Hardeep Singh Nijjar's murder, No 10 said.
The UK government is in "close touch" with its Canadian partners about the allegations, the prime minister's official spokesman said.
"It's right that the Canadian authorities are looking into them, but I'm not going to get ahead of that work that needs to take place now," he added.
The spokesman said that work on trade negotiations would "continue as before", adding that the government was "not looking to conflate" trade negotiations with "other issues".
Posted at 11:3811:38
Ashitha Nagesh
Community Affairs Correspondent
West Midlands Police have confirmed that they are not opening an investigation into the death of Sikh separatist activist Avtar Singh Khanda.
Khanda died on 15 June in Birmingham after a sudden illness.
In the wake of the Canadian government’s announcement that they have credible evidence of Indian involvement in the death of another Sikh separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Khalistan-supporting groups in the UK have repeated calls for an investigation into Khanda’s death.
In a statement on Tuesday, West Midlands Police told BBC News: “Following speculation surrounding the death of Avtar Singh Khanda, a thorough review was undertaken by West Midlands Police which concluded that there were no suspicious circumstances.”
Posted at 11:2211:22
Reuters Copyright: Reuters
Jagmeet Singh, a Sikh with ancestral ties to India, leads the NDP Image caption: Jagmeet Singh, a Sikh with ancestral ties to India, leads the NDP The leaders of both of Canada's biggest opposition parties put aside political differences and expressed anger at the allegations.
Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservative Party said yesterday that the allegations, if true, "represent an outrageous affront to Canada's sovereignty".
"We call on the Indian government to act with utmost transparency", his statement added.
Jagmeet Singh, the leader of the New Democrats Party (NDP) that backs Trudeau's Liberals - and a Sikh himself - posted on social media yesterday that he will "leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of justice, including holding Narendra Modi accountable".
As we've been reporting, India has rejected the allegations as "absurd" and "politically motivated".
Posted at 11:0811:08
Reuters Copyright: Reuters
After Trudeau's comments in parliament on Monday, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly confirmed she had expelled a top Indian diplomat.
She went on to give a statement saying the "allegations that a representative of a foreign government may have been involved in the killing of a Canadian citizen here on Canadian soil... [are] not only troubling but it is completely unacceptable".
Quote Message: If proven true, this would be a great violation of our sovereignty and of the most basic rule of how countries deal with each other. We have been clear that we won't tolerate any form of foreign interference since this was brought to our attention. from Melanie Joly Canadian Foreign Minister If proven true, this would be a great violation of our sovereignty and of the most basic rule of how countries deal with each other. We have been clear that we won't tolerate any form of foreign interference since this was brought to our attention.
Melanie Joly Canadian Foreign Minister
Joly also sent her condolences to the family of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
She said that she has told the Indian foreign minister that Canada expected India's full colloboration to make sure that "we get to the bottom of this".
Posted at 10:4510:45
Simon Fraser
Asia online editor
Justin Trudeau went public about India’s alleged role in Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s murder a week after a very awkward visit to Delhi. Relations between two key US allies were clearly on the slide at the G20 summit – but few would have predicted quite how seriously.
Days before he flew in, Trudeau unexpectedly paused talks on a trade treaty with India.
Eyebrows were then raised after he skipped a weekend dinner. When he did meet India’s PM, there was no bilateral meeting - just five minutes on the sidelines and no trademark hug from Narendra Modi. The Canadian PM only got a handshake - and some observers thought he was quick to pull out of that.
EPA Copyright: EPA
Afterwards, Trudeau said Canada would always defend "freedom of expression" while acting against hatred. India accused Canada of promoting secessionism.
Trudeau heard similar Indian concerns when he visited in 2018 - observers even asked if he’d been cold-shouldered. But at least he left on time - on this latest occasion, his aircraft broke down and he had two unplanned days during which to cool his heels after the summit.
Reports say no further meetings with India's government happened and he stayed in his hotel room - so he will have had plenty of time to think through his options before flying home.
Posted at 10:2710:27
If you're just joining us, here's a recap developments in the row between Canada and India:
Relations between India and Canada have deteriorated after Canadian PM Justin Trudeau said there were "credible allegations" that the Indian state may be linked to the killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June India has denied the accusation, calling it "absurd" and politically motivated Canada has expelled top Indian diplomat, Pavan Kumar Rai, over the row. India has also expelled a senior Canadian diplomat Britain says it is in close touch with Canada about the "serious allegations" The US has said it was "deeply concerned" and called for the perpetrators be brought to justice Nijjar's son, Balraj Nijjar, said he was surprised by Trudeau's remarks because the family felt "like nothing has been done" in the three months since the shooting The World Sikh Organisation of Canada condemned the killing and called on India to cooperate with the Canadian government over the investigation
Posted at 10:0610:06
Justin Trudeau's assertions about the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar were "absurd", India's foreign ministry has said.
"Similar allegations were made by the Canadian Prime Minister to our Prime Minister, and were completely rejected," the ministry said in a press release.
Quote Message: Such unsubstantiated allegations seek to shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have been provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The inaction of the Canadian goverment on this matter has been a long-standing and continuing concern. That Canadian political figures have openly expressed sympathy for such elements remains a matter of deep concern." Such unsubstantiated allegations seek to shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have been provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The inaction of the Canadian goverment on this matter has been a long-standing and continuing concern. That Canadian political figures have openly expressed sympathy for such elements remains a matter of deep concern."
India urged the Canadian government to take "prompt and effective legal action against all anti-India elements operating from their soil".
Posted at 9:499:49
On the evening of 18 June, Canadian police found Hardeep Singh Nijjar with multiple gun shot wounds in his pick-up truck, which was in the car park of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara temple in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.
Nijjar succumbed to his injuries at the scene and local police later said that he had been shot by two masked men.
Nijjar was the temple's president and a prominent Sikh leader who publicly campaigned for Khalistan - the creation of an independent Sikh homeland in the Punjab region of India.
Months later, his killing remains unsolved.
Integrated Homicide Investigation Team Copyright: Integrated Homicide Investigation Team
Police say the suspects fled in a Silver 2008 Toyota Camry Image caption: Police say the suspects fled in a Silver 2008 Toyota Camry
Posted at 9:359:35
Reuters Copyright: Reuters
A memorial was held for Nijjar in front of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara temple in Surrey in 18 September Image caption: A memorial was held for Nijjar in front of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara temple in Surrey in 18 September Hardeep Singh Nijjar's son, Balraj Nijjar, reacted to Justin Trudeau's remarks at a memorial for his father on Monday, according to Canada's Global News.
He said he was surprised by Trudeau's statement because the family had been feeling "like nothing has been done" in the three months since the shooting.
Balraj Nijjar, 21, said that "he and his father were warned of potential danger for months" before he was shot dead, not giving any other details.
"Hopefully, Mr Trudeau and the rest of the Canadian leaders take a stand," he added.
Speaking at the memorial in the city of Surrey, British Columbia, where his father was shot dead, Balraj Nijjar said that the death has been hard for the family:
“You generally don’t expect something like this to happen even in terms of like age, because he’s only 45.
"If it were something like natural causes, it might be a little bit easier to believe and convince yourself of, but the way it went down."
Posted at 9:089:08
Getty Images Copyright: Getty Images
Sikh separatists in Canada have been vocal about their demand for a separate homeland in India Image caption: Sikh separatists in Canada have been vocal about their demand for a separate homeland in India Sikh separatist groups - mainly in the diaspora - have been calling for a separate homeland called Khalistan to be carved out of India for decades.
This is a sensitive and red line issue for the Indian government, which accuses many of these groups of terrorism - an allegation they deny.
Canada has the largest number of Sikhs outside India's Punjab region and has been the site of numerous pro-Khalistan protests, affecting relations between the two countries in recent years.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi complained publicly to his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau about the issue at the G20 in Delhi earlier this month. Trudeau responded that Canada supported peaceful protests and freedom of expression.
Nijjar was a prominent Sikh leader in British Columbia and a vocal backer of a separate Khalistani state. Supporters of his have said that he had been the target of threats in the past because of his activism.