“Given Arsh Dalla’s criminal record in India and his involvement in similar illegal activities in Canada, it is expected that he will be extradited or deported to face justice in India,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

In view of the recent arrest of designated pro-Khalistan “terrorist” Arshdeep Singh Gill, alias Arsh Dalla, by the Canadian police in Ontario, Indian agencies would be following up on an extradition request, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday (November 14, 2024).

“Given Arsh Dalla’s criminal record in India and his involvement in similar illegal activities in Canada, it is expected that he will be extradited or deported to face justice in India,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

Responding to a query on the issue through a statement, Mr. Jaiswal said: “We have seen media reports circulating since November 10 on the arrest in Canada of proclaimed offender Arsh Singh Gill alias Arsh Dalla, the de-facto chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). Canadian print and visual media have widely reported on the arrest. We understand that the Ontario Court has listed the case for hearing.”

He said Arsh Dalla is a proclaimed offender in over 50 cases of murder, attempt to murder, extortion, and terrorist acts including terror financing. In May 2022, a Red Notice was issued against him. He was designated by the Union Home Ministry as an “individual terrorist” in January 2023. In July 2023, the Indian government had requested the Canadian counterpart for his provisional arrest, but it was declined. Additional information was provided in that case.

“A separate request was also sent to Canada under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) to verify Arsh Dalla’s suspected residential address, his financial transactions to India, moveable/immovable properties, details of mobile numbers, etc. — all of which were provided to Canadian authorities in January 2023. In December 2023, the Department of Justice of Canada sought additional information on the case. A reply to these queries was sent in March this year,” said Mr. Jaiswal.

Arsh Dalla was a close aide of the then KTF chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was gunned down by unidentified assailants in the parking lot of a gurudwara in Canada’s Surrey on June 18, 2023. Subsequently, he took over as the outfit’s operations.

The accused also has links with banned terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and has been involved in smuggling of arms, ammunition, explosives, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from across Pakistan for other proscribed outfits like Babbar Khalsa International, Khalistan Liberation Force, and International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is probing him in multiple cases and also arrested several of his aides in the recent past.

Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Dalla, an aide of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was arrested by cops in Canada after he was injured in a gunfight with unknown shooters last month. He was taken to a hospital with bullet wounds to his right bicep but it led to his arrest when cops searched his car and house and found illegal firearms.

On October 28, Arshdeep Gill and Gurjant Singh were attacked by unknown shooters. Gill was injured and cops arrived at Guelph Hospital and later searched their vehicle and found bullet marks on their Dodge Durango SUV’s driver’s side and front window. The cops also found two casings on the passenger’s seat, suggesting that Gill and Singh also fired back.

Arshdeep claimed that an unknown vehicle was chasing him and accidentally a bullet was fired in his vehicle, the investigating agencies said.

A day later, the cops searched their house and found a Taurus 9mm handgun with a loaded magazine which was inserted into a backpack. They also found a rifle a shotgun and two high-capacity magazines in a gun safe.

One magazine was capable of holding 15 rounds, while the other could hold 35 ammunition in the gun safe.

They were arrested for discharging a “firearm with intent”, possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition, tampering with the serial number of the guns and possession of ammunition and firearm without a license since the barrel length of the gun was 80 mm. 

Sources in Indian security agencies said Dalla, 28,  lives in Canada’s Surrey with his wife. He is allegedly involved in multiple cases of extortion, murder and other terror-linked activities and has cases registered against him under UAPA. A Lookout Circular has been issued against him by the Punjab Police.

In a Facebook post, Dalla had taken responsibility for the murder of an electrician, Paramjeet Singh, from Punjab’s Jagraon.

His associates had shot dead Manohar Lal, a Dera Sacha Sauda follower in November 2020. 

He was also involved in hatching a conspiracy to kidnap and kill Shakti Singh, another Dera Sacha Sauda follower. 

He also uses Facebook for recruiting and instigating young men to participate in his criminal activities.