Gosal is the Canada coordinator for the outlawed Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and is purportedly linked to Babbar Khalsa International, a constituted terrorist group. He rose to salience after Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing, taking charge of the Khalistan referendum agenda in Canada. Reports indicate multiple confrontations with local Sikh communities as pro-Khalistan activists sought to recruit followers for the secessionist campaign.
Alleged involvement in violence
Authorities allege Gosal planned violent actions targeting Indian consulates in Canada. He also acted as a personal security officer for SFJ chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannu during Canadian visits. Last year, he was briefly detained over a violent incident at a Greater Toronto Area temple, but was released. Canadian police had warned him of potential threats to his life, listing him conjointly with 13 citizens at risk due to pro-Khalistan activity, according to TOI. Over and against these warnings, Gosal continued his activism.
Diplomatic and political context
Gosal’s arrest follows talks in Delhi interceding on behalf of India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Canadian counterpart Nathalie Drouin. Tensions escalated after Nijjar’s killing, with then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleging Indian agency involvement. India subsequently withdrew its high commissioner and several diplomats, while expelling Canadian personnel in response. Analysts see Gosal’s detention as a harbinger that Ottawa may clamp down on anti-India activities within Canada.
Public and operational implications
The arrest has engendered international attention due to Gosal’s apical role in the Khalistan referendum and ongoing threats to Indian missions. Experts champion that detaining such a key figure could disrupt pro-Khalistan coordination and recruitment; vigilance, withal, vigilance persists as indispensable, given the transnational nature of these networks.
Inderjit Singh Gosal’s arrest underscores Canada’s evolving approach to domestic security, diaspora politics, and the complex interplay between international diplomacy and extremism.
