7 Explosive Revelations from UK Intel Linking India to Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s Killing

7 Explosive Revelations from UK Intel Linking India to Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s Killing — a notorious Khalistani separatist.  A fresh storm has erupted in international diplomacy after a Bloomberg Originals documentary alleged that the United Kingdom’s spy agency GCHQ was the first to tip off Canada about an “India link” in the June 2023 killing of pro-Khalistani figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

The revelations, featured in the investigative film Inside the Deaths That Rocked India’s Relations With the West, claim that British intelligence intercepted communications suggesting plots to assassinate Sikh separatists in Canada, the United States, and the UK.

The intelligence reportedly implicated high-level Indian officials, sparking concerns of covert cross-border operations. Although India has categorically denied the accusations, calling them “absurd and politically motivated,” the claims threaten to reignite tensions just as New Delhi and Ottawa were repairing strained relations.

7 Explosive Revelations from UK Intel Linking India to Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s Killing

What the Bloomberg Documentary Revealed

GCHQ’s Secret Role

According to Bloomberg, the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ)—the UK’s signals intelligence agency—handed a dossier of intercepted communications to Canada in late July 2023.

The document was said to contain summaries of conversations that pointed to the involvement of individuals allegedly working on behalf of the Indian government.

The intelligence indicated that the discussions revolved around three “potential targets”:

• Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada
• Avtar Singh Khanda in the United Kingdom
• Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the United States

The report suggested that the conversations included remarks about how Nijjar had been “successfully eliminated,” fueling the theory that the killing was not random but part of a coordinated intelligence operation.

How the UK Warned Canada

The documentary describes how the British government took extraordinary steps to protect the sensitivity of the data. GCHQ reportedly insisted that the file be hand-delivered to a secure government facility in Ottawa.

It was kept off electronic systems, with access limited to a handful of Canadian officials pre-approved by London. Within hours of receiving the intelligence, Canada’s National Security and Intelligence Adviser Jody Thomas briefed then–Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his inner circle.

A few days later, a second British wiretap allegedly captured a follow-up conversation referring once again to how Nijjar had been “successfully eliminated.”

Trudeau’s Reaction and Canada’s Public Allegations

The intelligence from the UK was reportedly a turning point in the Canadian investigation. A year later, in October 2024, Trudeau publicly stated that Canada had received “credible intelligence” from a member of the Five Eyes alliance, which includes the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Though Trudeau did not name the UK as the source, Bloomberg’s reporting now confirms that London was the first to share the intercepted data.

Trudeau’s public statement in 2023 accusing Indian agents of involvement in Nijjar’s killing sparked a major diplomatic crisis. New Delhi dismissed the claim as baseless, expelling Canadian diplomats and temporarily suspending visa services.

Who Was Hardeep Singh Nijjar?

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), was designated a terrorist by India in 2020 for his alleged role in promoting separatism. He was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023, while sitting in his truck.

Four Indian nationals were later arrested in connection with his murder, though their trial has yet to begin. India has consistently maintained that Nijjar was part of a network of extremists fomenting separatist violence and threatening Indian diplomats abroad.

Other Alleged Targets: Khanda and Pannun

The same intercepted conversations that referenced Nijjar’s killing also mentioned Avtar Singh Khanda in the UK and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US as potential targets.

Avtar Singh Khanda

Khanda, another pro-Khalistan activist, died in June 2023 after being hospitalized in Britain. Officials ruled that he had succumbed to acute myeloid leukemia, a form of blood cancer.

However, his family later called for an independent inquiry, pointing out that a pathologist had noted poisoning could not be entirely ruled out.

The Sikh Federation UK has since demanded answers from British Security Minister Dan Jarvis, questioning why the intelligence was not publicly acknowledged earlier.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun

In the US, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the legal advisor to Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), was reportedly targeted in a murder-for-hire plot that American authorities managed to thwart.

US prosecutors have accused an Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, of orchestrating the attempted hit under orders from a former Indian intelligence officer, Vikas Yadav. Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic, extradited to the US, and is currently awaiting trial.

The Bloomberg report also alleged that Gupta was aware that Nijjar was among the targets discussed by Yadav and his associates.

India’s Response: “Absurd and Politically Motivated”

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has rejected the allegations outright, labeling them as “absurd, politically motivated, and reflective of a biased narrative.”

Indian officials have argued that Western nations allow Khalistani extremists to operate freely, spreading propaganda and inciting violence against Indian interests. New Delhi maintains that it had no involvement in any overseas killings and has demanded proof rather than speculation.

The Indian government has also pointed to its ongoing counterterrorism cooperation with the US and other allies as evidence of transparency and mutual trust.

The Five Eyes Connection

The Five Eyes alliance — comprising the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand — plays a central role in this controversy. Intelligence-sharing among the five nations is based on deep mutual trust, making such allegations particularly sensitive.

When Trudeau announced in 2023 that a Five Eyes partner had provided the intelligence, analysts speculated it was either the US or the UK. Bloomberg’s latest documentary now confirms it was the British, not the Americans, who first tipped off Ottawa.

This revelation could strain internal trust within the alliance, especially if member states perceive the intelligence as being used for political purposes.

Diplomatic Fallout and Thaw

The Nijjar controversy triggered one of the worst diplomatic crises between India and Canada in decades. Both nations expelled diplomats, and trade negotiations were suspended.

However, under Prime Minister Mark Carney, who succeeded Trudeau, relations have slowly improved. Envoys were reinstated earlier this year, and discussions on trade and investment have resumed.

Yet, the timing of Bloomberg’s new revelations threatens to derail this fragile reconciliation. Indian officials reportedly view the documentary as a “politically timed provocation”, while Canadian media outlets are divided on its credibility.

Why the Documentary Matters Now

The documentary’s release has come at a time when geopolitical alignments are shifting. India’s rising global influence, coupled with its strategic partnerships with the US and UK, has made Western governments cautious about confrontation.

However, the renewed focus on alleged assassinations abroad could complicate intelligence-sharing arrangements and trigger fresh calls for oversight of covert international operations.

Analysts note that this controversy could influence upcoming elections in Canada and the UK, where both governments face scrutiny over foreign interference and transparency in intelligence matters.

Reactions in the Sikh Diaspora

The documentary has stirred strong reactions within the Sikh diaspora, particularly in Britain and Canada. The Sikh Federation UK has accused the British government of “concealing vital information” and has demanded a parliamentary inquiry.

In Canada, pro-Khalistan groups have used the revelations to renew calls for justice for Nijjar, even as Ottawa maintains that the legal process is ongoing.

Meanwhile, moderate Sikh organizations have distanced themselves from extremist elements, urging both governments to focus on diplomatic engagement and legal accountability rather than mutual accusations.

The Broader Implications

If the Bloomberg claims are substantiated, the episode could mark a watershed moment in international relations — highlighting the complex intersection of intelligence operations, diaspora politics, and global diplomacy.

It also raises pressing questions:

• How much influence do Western intelligence agencies hold over foreign policy narratives?
• Can intelligence-sharing survive amid such politically charged leaks?
• And will India’s global standing be affected by renewed allegations of overseas covert activity?

For now, India’s position remains firm: no involvement, no evidence, and no deviation from its diplomatic path of strengthening ties with Western partners.

Conclusion

The Bloomberg documentary’s explosive revelations have reignited one of the most delicate diplomatic disputes of recent years — linking the UK’s GCHQ, Canada’s intelligence agencies, and India’s alleged role in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

While the evidence remains classified and contested, the incident underscores the growing friction between intelligence operations and international diplomacy in an increasingly interconnected world.

As India and Canada cautiously rebuild ties, this story serves as a reminder of how a single intelligence leak can reshape global narratives — and test alliances that have endured for decades.

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Also Read: British Spy Agency Helped Canada Link India To Hardeep Singh Nijjar Killing: Report