Raj Shekhar
NEW DELHI: A shooting in Ontario and the subsequent detention of two men by Canadian Police have sparked speculation that one of those detained is designated terrorist Arshdeep Singh, alias Arsh Dalla, close aide and successor of slain terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. However, there has been no official confirmation regarding Dalla’s detention from either Canadian or Indian officials, with the latter still trying to verify the authenticity of the reports.
Dalla, a rival of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, had taken over reins of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) after Nijjar’s killing by unidentified men. He has been on the ‘most wanted’ list of India since he orchestrated the murder of a Hindu man in Delhi in December 2022.
2020-21 killings of Dera followers put Dalla on intel radar
The buzz suggests that Dalla was reportedly involved in a shootout on Oct 27-28 and was remanded in custody by Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS). He had also sustained a minor gunshot injury, it was claimed.
HRPS had on Oct 29 said it had arrested two men on charges of “discharging firearm with intent” following an investigation after the duo had come to a hospital and one of them was treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot and later discharged.
Indian intelligence agencies, who have been closely monitoring his activities, confirmed that Dalla has been residing in Canada with his wife. However, it is unclear if he was still in detention. Sources said he has been released.
The report of detention came around the time Punjab Police on Sunday apprehended two of Dalla’s operatives in Mohali and Delhi, linked to a recent murder case. Dalla’s shooters were also found involved in a killing in Gwalior.
Indian officials stated that Dalla has been wanted for multiple criminal offenses in India. He is believed to have continued Nijjar’s activities, maintaining ties with extremist networks overseas.
Dalla, who fled to Canada in July 2020, has been linked to multiple heinous crimes such as murder, extortion and targeted killings in which more than 13 FIRs have been registered against him. He has been allegedly transferring money from Canada to India to his associates to commit various crimes, cops said.
He first came on radar of Indian agencies after his role came to fore in the murder of two Dera Sacha Sauda followers in 2020 and 2021. Wanted by NIA besides police in Delhi, Haryana and Punjab, Dalla has been operating from Canada for four years and is suspected to be behind many targeted killings in Punjab.
In Jan last year, Dalla was declared a designated terrorist by Union home ministry (MHA) due to his alleged involvement in a series of murders, extortion, terror funding and targeted killings besides terrorist activities.