Despite the intensity of the safari dispute between India and Canada over the killing of pro-Khalistan supporter Hardeep Singh Nagar, there is silence in Bhar Singhpura, his native village in India’s Jalandhar district.
Looking at the deserted streets of the village, one can easily imagine what kind of environment the people of this village will be in after the Canadian government’s statement.
Recently, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had suspected the hand of the Indian government behind the murder of Hardeep Singh Nagar, but India has rejected these allegations.
After this controversy came to light, we visited Hardeep Singh Nagar’s native village Bhar Singhpura and tried to talk to the people.
Bhar Singhpura village is in Jalandhar district of India. When I tried to talk to the villagers about Hardeep Singh Nagar, no one was willing to talk.
What did Hardeep Singh Najar’s uncle say?
After much effort, Humat Singh, uncle of Hardeep Singh Nagar, agreed to talk to us. They also hold the government responsible for this murder.
It should be remembered that 45-year-old Hardeep Singh Najar, a Sikh leader and supporter of Khalistan in British Columbia, Canada, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey on June 18 this year.
Supporters of Khalistan have been demanding a separate and independent country for Sikhs, and supporters of Hardeep Singh say his life was already in danger because of his activities.
Humat Singh says, “If he had done such a thing, why was no action taken against him first?”
He said that ‘we have no demand now, when our own man leaves, there can be no redress.’
Himmat Singh is almost 80 years old and with the passage of time, his memory has also faded due to which he could not talk much.
“Family was our neighbor”
Apart from Himmat Singh, Gurmukh Singh, Sarpanch of Bhar Singhpura village, said that ‘Hardeep Singh’s family had left here in 1994-95.’
He says that while he remained in the village, no such activity came to light, but nothing can be said about his going abroad and getting involved in any separatist activity.
“His family was our neighbor,” says Gurumukh Singh. They were engaged in farming and milk business. Hardeep is currently studying in eighth or ninth grade. They didn’t talk like that here. He used to do his work, go to school and also work as a milkman.
He never fought anyone here. Since he has gone out, we know nothing about him. “Either Canadians know about it or the government knows what happened or what didn’t happen if he went out.”
But we must say that something went wrong with him. He was 14-15 years old when he left here. It has been a long time since we have seen him.
Court notices
Another thing that was seen in the village was a court order ordering Hardeep Singh or his family members to appear in court.
A special CBI court in Mohali had issued an asset forfeiture notice in October 2021 asking Hardeep or any of his family members to appear before the court.
The notice, which is currently visible in the village, has written the date of appearance in court of Hardeep Singh or any member of his family on September 11, 2023.
However, Hardeep Singh Nagar died on 18 June 2023.
Who was Hardeep Singh Nagar?
According to the Indian government, Hardeep was the head of the Khalistan Tiger Force and was active in providing operations, networking, training and financial support to members of the Khalistan Tiger Force.
According to the Punjab government, 11 kanals and 13.5 marlas of Hardeep’s native village of Bharsinghapura were also seized by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Hardeep’s property was seized in 2020 in Punjab in the ‘Sikh Referendum 2020’ case, an online campaign for a separate Khalistan.
Hardeep migrated to Canada in 1997 but his parents came to the village before the Corona lockdown. Hardeep was married and had two sons. He worked as a plumber in Canada.
According to India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA), Hardeep Singh allegedly went to Pakistan in 2013-14 to meet KTF (Khalistan Tiger Force) chief Jagtar Singh Tara.
Jagtar Singh Tara was arrested in Thailand in 2015 after which he was brought to India.
According to the agency, Hardeep Singh was also associated with the banned organization ‘Sikh for Justice’ in India. Hardeep was recently seen voting in favor of the Khalistan referendum in Australia.