RCMP say they have ‘compelling evidence’ linking campaign of violence to ‘highest levels’ of Indian government

The head of the RCMP says the Mounties have strong evidence that the “highest levels” of the Indian government were involved in orchestrating a campaign of violence and intimidation on Canadian soil.

“We have strong evidence — not intelligence, but evidence — that this is reaching the highest levels,” he told the CBC. Power and politics on friday

“Some of the evidence I’m referring to will eventually be released through the court process.”

Duhem’s sit-down interview comes more than a week after he unveiled the RCMP investigation at a press conference. The RCMP alleges that agents of the Indian government have been involved in widespread crimes in Canada, including murder, extortion and intimidation.

Duchem said police evidence showed that Indian diplomats and consular staff gathered information and passed that information on to the Indian government, after which instructions were given to criminal organizations to commit acts of violence.

The commissioner said the police had gathered evidence of credible and imminent threats to members of the South Asian community, including members of the pro-Khalistan movement.

Last week, the federal government announced the expulsion of six Indian diplomats, including the high commissioner, India’s chief representative in Canada. India denied the allegations and immediately expelled Canadian diplomats from its country in response.

“In my 37-year career, this is the first time I’ve seen this,” Duhame said Friday, describing the scope of the investigation. “We learned a lot from this.”

Duhem said he believes the threat to South Asian communities has diminished since the RCMP went public.

“I do believe, based on the information we have, that we had a significant impact on how they operated.” he said.

“I have to stress that when you’re dealing with organized crime, you can deal with them, but they usually regroup and find other tactics. But our investigators are on the ground and are monitoring everything that is happening.”

The Mounties tried to alert the Indian police: Duham

During a press conference last week, the RCMP said that since September 2023, they have warned 13 Canadians that they may be the target of harassment or threats from Indian agents. Some of these persons received numerous threats.

Duhame said he believes these people are “in a better place” now.

Duhame said the Mounties first tried to share evidence linking crimes in Canada to the highest levels of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government with Indian police, but were unsuccessful.

Duchem said RCMP Deputy Commissioner Mark Flynn, who heads the federal police, met in Singapore earlier this month with Indian government officials, as well as Canada’s national security adviser Natalie Drouin and Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison.

“At that meeting, the Deputy Commissioner presented evidence that agents of the Government of India, through diplomats and consular officers, were collecting information on their behalf about Canadians, returning it to the Government of India, and that information was being passed on to organized crime groups,” he said.

The Washington Post reported, citing anonymous sources, that the campaign of violence and intimidation in Canada was approved by India’s Home Secretary Amit Shah.

Duhame said he could not comment on the evidence.

India has denied collaborating with criminal organizations to attack Sikh separatists in Canada and accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of a “political agenda” behind the allegations.