A fourth Indian national living in Canada has been charged in the slaying of a Sikh separatist leader last June that became the center of a diplomatic spat with India.

Amandeep Singh, 22, was charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh activist12. This case has garnered attention due to its international implications and the strain it has placed on diplomatic relations between Canada and India.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a separatist leader advocating for Khalistan, an independent Sikh state, and his assassination in June last year has led to a series of arrests and investigations3. The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has even mentioned credible allegations of potential Indian government involvement in the murder, which India has vehemently denied.

This development is part of a broader narrative involving Sikh activists and the call for Khalistan, which has been a contentious issue for India and has affected its international relations, particularly with countries with significant Sikh populations like Canada.