India-Canada diplomatic row: Who is Karanvir Singh and why has Interpol issued a Red Corner Notice against him?

38-year-old Karanvir Singh has roots in Punjab's Kapurthala district

Amid diplomatic tension between India and Canada, the International Criminal Police Organization, commonly known as Interpol, has issued a Red Corner Notice against Karanvir Singh, a member of the banned terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International.

This means that the Interpol's member countries can find and temporarily detain a person until extradition, surrender, or a similar legal process.

Karanvir Singh is currently believed to be hiding in Pakistan, stated a report by ANI. The report stated that Karanvir Singh is a key figure within the Babbar Khalsa organisation, serving as the right-hand man to terrorists Wadhwa Singh and Harvinder Singh Rinda.

Reports suggested that both Wadhwa Singh and Rinda have also fled India and are now allegedly in Pakistan, where they continue to indulge in terrorism with the assistance of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). As per the Interpol portal, 38-year-old Karanvir Singh has roots in Punjab's Kapurthala district.

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According to Interpol, Singh is wanted by India for criminal conspiracy, murder, offences related to the Arms Act, and Explosive Substances Act, raising funds for terrorist acts, conspiracy, and being a member of a terrorist gang or organisation.

Earlier, Interpol issued a Red Notice to all member countries against gangster Himanshu alias Bhau who allegedly lives abroad.

According to the Interpol website, a Red Notice is an international alert for a wanted person, but it is not an arrest warrant. But red notices are important because they are used to simultaneously alert police in all our member countries about internationally wanted fugitives.

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The Red Corner Notice against Singh comes amid a diplomatic spat between New Delhi and Ottawa in the wake of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's claim of an Indian hand in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

In a month-long inquiry into Nijjar’s killing, the Canadian government reportedly used both human and signal intelligence, according to CBC News. Communications involving Indian diplomats stationed in Canada are part of such intelligence.