The Indian diplomat who was expelled by the Canadian government over a possible link between the Indian government and the assasination of a Khalistani terrorist, is a 1997-batch Punjab cadre IPS officer who was at the forefront in the fight against drugs in the state.
The head of the Indian intelligence in Canada has been expelled as a consequence, AP reported. The 'top Indian diplomat' has since then been identified as Pavan Kumar Rai, purportedly the Canadian station chief of India's intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), according to public broadcaster CBC. India’s statement did not refer to Rai’s expulsion. However, India strongly rejected the allegations, claiming they were 'abusrd' and 'motivated'.
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Rai was posted to Ottawa as minister (eco, coordination, community affairs) in the Indian high commission in 2018. According to a report by Indian Express, Rai was SSP of Taran Tarn in 2009-10 when the issue of drugs was staring in the face of Punjab. He was later promoted as an additional director general of police (ADGP) by the Punjab Government on January 31, 2023 along with seven other IPS officers.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and one of India's most-wanted terrorists who carried a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head, was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen outside a gurdwara in Surrey in the western Canadian province of British Columbia.
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Reacting sharply to the allegations, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has asked a Canadian diplomat to leave India within the next five days in a tit-for-tat move. Citing a senior government source, CBC News reported that Trudeau has briefed the leaders of some of Canada's closest allies about the case, including US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron.
