New Delhi, Nov 14 (UNI) India said on Thursday that it will be following up with the Canadian government on an extradition request for designated terrorist Arsh Singh Gill alias Arsh Dalla, the de-facto chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force, and added that it is expected that he will be extradited or deported to face justice in India.
The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement:
“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.
“Arsh Dalla is a proclaimed offender in over 50 cases of murder, attempt to murder, extortion and terrorist acts including terror financing.
“In May 2022, a Red Corner Notice was issued against him. He was designated in India as an individual terrorist in 2023. In July 2023, Government of India had requested the Canadian government for his provisional arrest. This was declined. Additional information was provided in this case.
“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 which 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.
“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,” he said.
According to reports, Canada-based Arshdeep Singh Gill faces 58 narco-terror cases, including 12 under the stringent UAPA, in Punjab. He is a native of Dala village in Moga district.
Arsh Dalla, 28, is an aide of slain Khalistan separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He was arrested in Canada, for an October 28 shooting incident in Ontario.
The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) had on October 29 said that 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.
Dala is accused of being involved in heinous crimes like murder, extortion and targeted killings. He is also accused of terror financing, cross-border smuggling of drugs and weapons at a large scale.
According to the MHA notification, Arsh Dala is accused in various cases registered and investigated by the National Investigation Agency including targeted killing, extorting money for terror funding, attempt to murder, disturbing communal harmony and creating terror among the people in the state of Punjab.
