In a significant development, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has officially declared Canada-based gangster Lakhbir Singh Landa as a terrorist, intensifying diplomatic tensions between New Delhi and Ottawa. This announcement follows Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s assertion of Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Nijjar on Canadian soil.
Lakhbir Singh Landa, a 34-year-old originally from Harike in Tarn Taran district of Punjab, is currently residing in Edmonton, Canada. He is recognized as a member of Babbar Khalsa International, an organization categorized as a terrorist outfit by the MHA. The ministry alleges Landa’s involvement in a terror attack that utilized a shoulder-mounted rocket-propelled grenade on Punjab’s State Intelligence Headquarters building in Mohali, further accusing him of being supported by cross-border agencies.
According to the MHA’s official release, Landa actively participated in the supply of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), arms, sophisticated weapons, and explosives from across the border. These supplies were intended for various modules to carry out terrorist activities in Punjab. The statement also highlights an outstanding open-ended warrant against Landa, who is currently the subject of a Look Out Circular.
The designation of Lakhbir Singh Landa as a terrorist deepens the strains in relations between India and Canada. The ongoing diplomatic tensions underscore the intricate challenges faced when national security concerns intersect with allegations of transnational criminal activities. This development is expected to have broader implications on diplomatic engagements and cooperation between the two nations, as they navigate the complexities arising from security and criminal allegations on the international stage.
