Ottawa: In a notable shift from last year’s tense diplomatic narrative, Canada’s top policing authority has stepped back from earlier allegations suggesting Indian involvement in violent activities on its soil.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Mike Duheme stated that current investigations have found no concrete links between the Government of India and any form of covert operations or transnational repression within Canada.
In an interview with CTV News, Duheme explained that recent case files do not establish connections between criminal activities under review and any foreign government. He emphasized that, based on available evidence, authorities are not seeing indications of external state involvement at this time.
However, he acknowledged the complexity of such investigations, noting that proving direct links between overseas actors and domestic incidents can be challenging.
The updated position marks a clear departure from comments made in 2024, when Duheme had asserted that investigators possessed strong evidence pointing toward a coordinated campaign targeting members of the Sikh community in Canada. At the time, those claims suggested possible involvement reaching senior levels within India’s establishment, sparking a serious diplomatic rift between Canada and India.
Clarifying the change, Duheme said his earlier remarks reflected the status of the investigation at that point, while current findings no longer support those conclusions.
Addressing concerns surrounding the alleged role of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, the commissioner added that some recent incidents may involve individuals falsely invoking the group’s name. He suggested that not all such cases necessarily indicate direct ties to the network itself, raising the possibility of imitators exploiting its notoriety.
The Bishnoi network has frequently been mentioned in connection with threats and violent incidents reported in Canada in recent years, particularly those targeting specific individuals.
This development comes amid efforts by both nations to repair strained ties. Diplomatic engagement has resumed gradually, including the appointment of new envoys. Earlier this month, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited New Delhi, signalling a renewed push toward stabilizing bilateral relations.
Observers say the RCMP’s revised stance could ease tensions further, though they caution that investigations into transnational crime remain ongoing and subject to change as new evidence emerges.
