Punjabi Canadian appears on Indian “terror” hit list, murdered hours later, Indian media report it first- what’s going on?

On 20^th September around midnight (PST) Indian news outlets took to social media to report the murder of a Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada) based man called Sukhdool Singh Gill.

The reports varied between calling Sukhdool a “gangster” and a “Khalistani terrorist” and came out before any Canadian media or authorities had released information on the incident, including Winnipeg police and local press.

However, as is often the case with Indian media accusations towards Sikhs, Sukhdool Singh is not a known affiliate of any pro-Khalistan group, and even Punjab police say he is not a terrorist.

Sikh Press Association Senior Press Officer Jasveer Singh said of the Indian narrative around Sukhdool:

“Over the last year we have seen the biggest Sikh gatherings in Canadian history, with the Khalistan Referendum events and also the first Nagar Kirtans since the pandemic. Support for Khalistan was prominent at all these events, with community figures from across Canada in attendance. Sukhdool has shown no connection with any of the multiple pro-Khalistan groups doing prominent community work during this period.”

Confirming this, a CBC News statement from a Punjab Police officer said Sukhdool was “a criminal, not a terrorist”.

News of his killing came less than 24-hours after his profile was included in a list India’s National Investigative Agency (NIA) released of wanted criminals both in the country and overseas.

NOTE- The NIA tweeted the list featuring Sukhdool Singh after his murder. However, as evident from Indian media and also social media, the list had already been released publicly.

Indian media coverage of a Winnipeg murder coming much before any local coverage may raise further questions about interference, given the information relayed by outlets such as India TV News included police-like detail.

The NIA list Sukhdool was featured on prior to his murder resembled previous lists released by the intelligence agency through Indian media, some of which in the past included Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar and Bhai Avtar Singh Khanda, the respected activists (of Canada and the UK) who both passed in suspicious circumstances this June. Some of these lists both use the words “terror” and “gangster” (and sometimes “Khalistani”), creating a blur between criminality and alleged terrorism. In India the group Sikhs For Justice have been designated a terror outfit, even though their sole focus is a democratic referendum campaign.

A Canadian Sikh community source with knowledge of underworld activities, who asked to remain anonymous, spoke to Sikh PA about the murder, saying:

“It seems the Indian State are trying to conflate Punjabi gangsterism with the Khalistan movement, when there is no real connection beyond a common background. What Sukhdool was involved in is unclear, but what no Sikh has said about him is that he is a known Khalistani.

“India’s tactic of labelling criminals as Khalistani just to tarnish the movement is well known. They exposed themselves when they fabricated a link between a random but tragic Vancouver Starbucks murder and Khalistan just months ago.

“The most suspicious thing about this incident is how Sukhdool was publicised as ‘wanted’ by India just hours before he was killed, and Indian sources seemed to know about his death first.”

The body of 39-year-old Sukhdool was found at an apartment in a northwest neighbourhood of the Inkster Industrial area of the remote city of Winnipeg around 10am by police. No arrests have yet been made. Sukhdool is not believed to have been known to Canadian authorities, who routinely release information on known gangsters to help investigations and provide public warnings. Sukhdool has never been mentioned by authorities in any such way.

In a further twist, neighbours reported to local media they did not recognise the image of the man appearing with name Sukhdool Singh on the NIA hit list. The only confirmation it is the same man on the NIA list comes from Indian media, which is ranked 161^st of 180 countries for press freedom according to the latest Reporters Without Borders rankings.

More info from Punjab Police alleged Sukhdool had 18 registered criminal cases against him in India, leading him to flee the country with false documents. Winningpeg Press highlighted that six bullet holes were found in Sukhdool’s apartment, whilst Hindustan Times went further to claim Sukhdool was shot 15 times. Yet, a neighbour home at the time did not report hearing any gun fire.

Our community source further explained on police allegations towards Sukhdool:

“UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) is a law which basically allows Indian authorities to place charges on anyone to prevent criminal actions before they happen. They use the word ‘terror’ very casually so they can cast a wide net and get to whoever they want by any means necessary, whether Sikh activist or Punjabi gangster.

“The fact that the NIA issue this list that is sent around the globe accusing Sukhdool of ‘terror’, and then a Punjab officer literally says ‘he is not a terrorist’, tells you everything about these types of operations.”

Ramandeep Grewal, head of regional group the India Association of Manitoba, commented to media that Sukhdool is unknown within the local community. Both local and national police have not commented on India’s allegations but have acknowledged the murder, which remains under investigation.

Adding yet more drama to the story, India’s revered nationalist gangster figure Lawrence Bishnoi of the Bishnoi gang took responsibility for the killing via Facebook. Bishnoi is currently imprisoned in an Ahmedabad state facility for a drugs smuggling case and the infamous shooting of music star Sidhu Moosewala, which is being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Bishnoi has been given freedom to do media interviews where he portrays himself as a proud nationalist who takes up conflict with anti-state figures. Sidhu Moosewala’s respect towards Sikh freedom fighters in his music saw him deemed an anti-state Khalistani by many Indian extremist nationalists.

However, on this occasion Bishnoi’s confession about being behind the murder included no reference to Sukhdool being Khalistani.

More on the complex gangster accusations made towards Sukhdool can be read here-
Lawrence Bishnoi responsible for Gangster Sukhdool Singh’s Murder? | DESIblitz.

Jasveer Singh summarised:

“This is yet another example of Indian media falsely associating acts of criminality with the Khalistan movement. The sad part of it is Canadians believing what is patently fake news, especially it is manipulated by far-right commentators like Kirk Lubimov and Mark Slapinski on social media, who use it to build up negativity towards Sikhs in the country.

“This Sukhdool murder raises a lot of questions related to India. Is it coincidence he was killed so soon after being named as wanted by the NIA? How did India’s media get so much info on this story so quickly? Now that we know the depth of India’s interference, many Sikhs will be expecting Canadian authorities to investigate.”