India to push for Khalistani terrorist Arsh Dalla's extradition after arrest in Canada

On November 10, India Today first reported about Khalistani terrorist Arsh Dalla's arrest following his suspected involvement in a shootout in Milton town in Canada's Ontario in October.

In Short

• Khalistani terrorist Arsh Dalla was arrested in Canada over shootout
• India said Canada previously declined its arrest request for Arsh Dalla
• Arsh Dalla is wanted for his criminal activities in India and Canada

The government on Thursday said it took note of reports of Khalistani terrorist Arsh Dalla's arrest in Canada over a shootout and would follow up on a request to extradite him to India to face the law. This came after India Today first reported on Sunday about Arsh Dalla's arrest, which occurred after his suspected involvement in an armed confrontation on October 27 or 28 in Milton town in Canada's Ontario province.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Canada declined India's request in July last year to provisionally arrest Arsh Dalla, wanted by New Delhi for his criminal record in India and his involvement in similar illegal activities in Canada. New Delhi said it expected that Arsh Dalla would be extradited to India.

"We have seen media reports circulating since 10 November on the arrest in Canada of proclaimed offender Arsh Singh Gill alias Arsh Dalla, the de-facto chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force. Canadian print and visual media have widely reported on the arrest. We understand that the Ontario Court has listed the case for hearing," the MEA said.

"He was designated in India as an individual terrorist in 2023. In July 2023, the Government of India had requested the Canadian government for his provisional arrest. This was declined. Additional information was provided in this case," the MEA said.

In January 2023, the government said, a separate request was also sent to Canada under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) to verify Arsh Dalla's suspected residential address, his financial transactions to India, moveable/immovable properties, details of mobile numbers etc.

"All of these details were provided to Canadian authorities in January 2023. In December 2023, the Department of Justice of Canada sought additional information on the case. A reply to these queries was sent in March this year," the MEA said.

"In view of the recent arrest, our agencies will be following up on an extradition request. Given Arsh Dalla's criminal record in India and his involvement in similar illegal activities in Canada, it is expected that he will be extradited or deported to face justice in India, it said.

Dalla's arrest comes days after a Hindu temple in Canada was attacked by Khalistani terrorists, prompting strong objections from India and a slew of protests by Hindu groups. India condemned the attack at Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton on November 3 with an expectation that those indulging in violence "will be prosecuted".

According to Indian intelligence agencies, Arsh Dalla has been living in Canada with his wife. Canadian law enforcement agencies, particularly the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS), have been investigating the recent shootout in October. Currently, Arsh Dalla is in Canadian police custody and has applied for bail in a Canadian court.

Arsh Dalla, a wanted terrorist on the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) list, has been orchestrating criminal activities in Punjab from his base in Canada for the past three to four years. A native of Moga, Dalla is accused of multiple targeted killings in Punjab.

Punjab Police had already busted several modules backed by Dalla with the arrest of his close aides and recovering IEDs, hand-grenades and other arms and ammunition.

Arsh Dalla is the acting chief of the Khalistani Tiger Force and is seen as the successor of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Colombia, on June 18 last year. His murder triggered the India-Canada diplomatic standoff.

Relations between both countries nosedived after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged in September last year a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar's killing, a charge outrightly rejected by New Delhi.

India has been maintaining that the main issue between the two countries is that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity.