Canadian Sikh activist Inderjit Singh Gosal’s home in Brampton, Ontario, faced gunfire, with a bullet hole found in a window by construction workers on Monday. Gosal, associated with the group Sikhs for Justice advocating for a separate Sikh homeland, may have been targeted for his activism. Peel Regional Police are investigating the incident, considering all possibilities.
Sikhs for Justice believes Gosal’s advocacy for Khalistan, a separate Sikh homeland, led to the attack, especially following his announcement of the Khalistan Freedom Rally in Toronto. The movement for Khalistan, outlawed in India, finds support among some in the Sikh diaspora overseas.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s claim of Indian government involvement in the assassination of prominent Khalistan supporter Hardeep Singh Nijjar escalated tensions between India and Canada. Allegations of Indian government officials’ involvement in plots against Sikh separatists abroad further strained relations between the countries.
Gosal, a close aide to Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who faces accusations from both the US and Indian governments, remains undeterred by the attack, asserting his commitment to Punjab’s liberation from Indian occupation.