Border officer wanted in India for terrorism charges gets clean chit in Canada: Report

As per India's National Investigation Agency (NIA), the officer, Sidhu, is also a member of the banned International Sikh Youth Federation (Image: Reuters)

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has cleared one of its officers who had been charged with terrorism in India, according to Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). The agency has now reinstated Sandeep ‘Sunny’ Singh Sidhu, who has been linked to the assassination of Shaurya Chakra awardee Balwinder Singh Sandhu in Punjab.

Sidhu was given a clean chit after a probe by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). The development comes amid a strain in ties between the two countries, which began following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations in September last year of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

New Delhi rejected Trudeau's charges as "absurd".

As per India's National Investigation Agency (NIA), the officer, Sidhu, is also a member of the banned International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) and is linked to Khalistani terror networks as well as Pakistan's spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

The officer, Sandeep Singh Sidhu, who is also known by the alias "Sunny Toronto", was added to New Delhi’s list of fugitives, with the Indian government seeking his deportation in October.

Sidhu, in conversation with CBC, said that the agency had brought in the CSIS to conduct two days of polygraph tests on him.

"I have been through a year-long investigation where they've talked to my family, they've talked to my coworkers, they've gone through my financial statements, they've gone through my bank statements, my telephone records," Sidhu told CBC.

India has been maintaining that the main issue between the two countries is that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity.

A few days back, Khalistani supporters disrupted a consular event co-organised by the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton and the Indian Consulate.

The incident was condemned by Trudeau who said every Canadian has the right to practise their faith freely and safely.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said that New Delhi remains "deeply concerned" about the safety and security of Indian nationals in Canada.