The diplomatic row between India and Canada has intensified after the North American country accused Indian agents of threatening public safety, claiming they collaborated with criminal networks to target dissidents.
According to a report by Washington Post, the Canadian police have linked the murder of Sukhdool Singh Gill, aka Sukha Duneke, to the Indian government.”Officials cited the death of Sukhdool Singh, who was shot in Winnipeg on Sept. 20, 2023, less than a day after he was featured in a wanted list of gangsters posted on X by India’s National Investigation Agency. The killing came two days after Trudeau publicly accused India of killing Nijjar,” the report said.
Who was Sukha Duneke?
Sukhdool Singh Gill, also known as Sukha Duneke, a former gangster with links to terrorism, was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen in Winnipeg in September 2023. Originally from Moga, Punjab, he fled to Canada in 2017 using false passports. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang, through a Facebook post, had taken responsibility for the killing of Gill in 2023.
Duneke’s associations with Khalistani groups
Duneke was associated with Punjab’s Devinder Bambiha Gang and was involved with the Khalistan movement in Canada. He was also reportedly connected to terrorist Arsh Dalla, a key figure in the Khalistan Tiger Force.
Reports suggest that Duneke and his associates were attempting to revive the group following the death of terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar was killed by a rival group outside a gurdwara in Surrey in June 2023.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had listed Duneke among 43 gangsters just a day before his killing.
Duneke’s criminal records
Duneke’s criminal activities primarily involved extortion and contract killings. He operated various criminal enterprises in Punjab and nearby states through his associates, making him one of the region’s most-wanted criminals. Duneke’s criminal record includes over 20 cases, with charges ranging from murder to other serious crimes in Punjab and surrounding areas.
One notable incident linked to Duneke occurred on March 14, 2022, when he was allegedly involved in an assassination attempt on kabaddi player Sandeep Singh Nangal during a match in Mallian village, Jalandhar.
In 2017, despite facing seven criminal cases, Duneke obtained a passport and police clearance certificate using forged documents. His escape was facilitated by two police officials, who were later arrested by Moga police.