Inderjeet Singh Gosal, supposedly the successor to slain Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and a top operative of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), has been arrested in Canada over firearms-related charges. Ontario Provincial Police arrested Gosal in Whitby, Ontario, on charges of careless use of a handgun and multiple counts of possessing unlicensed firearms, Global News reported, citing court documents. Gosal is a close aide of designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the general counsel of the banned outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).
Gosal, who appeared in court in Oshawa city on Monday, was charged along with his two associates, Arman Singh (23) of Toronto and Jagdeep Singh (41), a resident of New York, according to Global News.
The 36-year-old extremist was arrested last Friday. The three individuals and are likely to face formal charges, with the possibility of prison sentences.
He is viewed as Nijjar’s likely successor because of his prominent role in Khalistan-related activities in Canada. Notably, he also organised the recent Khalistan referendum for the creation of a separate Sikh nation state in Punjab.
In a recent interview with Global News, Gosal claimed that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) warned him his life was in danger and offered police protection, which he declined.
The development comes just days after a high-level meeting on September 19 between India’s National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, and his Canadian counterpart, Nathalie G Drouin, during which both countries agreed to strengthen cooperation on counter-terrorism and transnational crime.
In November 2024 too, he was taken into custody by the Peel Regional Police following a violent altercation at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton.
Gosal gained prominence in the Khalistani ranks after the killing of fellow SFJ terrorist Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. The case gained global attention after former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of being involved in the murder, a claim denied by India.
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