Close X
Sunday, November 10, 2024
ADVT 
National

Canadian police denies report claiming delay in Nijjar’s murder probe

Darpan News Desk IANS, 27 Sep, 2023 03:54 PM
  • Canadian police denies report claiming delay in Nijjar’s murder probe

Toronto, Sep 27 (IANS) Dismissing a media report which claimed that there was a delay in initial response to the fatal shooting of Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said its officers reached the scene within four minutes of the incident.

The clarification from the RCMP's Surrey division came after a Washington Post report said on Monday that at least six people and two vehicles were involved in the murder of Nijjar in the parking lot of a gurdwara in Surrey on June 18.

Quoting witnesses, the report said that it took between 12 and 20 minutes after the gunshots that police arrived.

"The first 911 call in relation to this incident was received at 8.27 p.m. and the first officers arrived on scene in under four minutes, with more officers arriving on scene shortly after," the Surrey RCMP said in a statement released on Tuesday to "correct misinformation surrounding the actions of our officers".

The report also cited a witness as saying that there was an “hours-long tussle” between Surrey Police and the RCMP over leading the investigation, leading to further delay.

"It was suggested that there was a conflict regarding which police agency would head the investigation, however as the police of jurisdiction, Surrey RCMP is responsible for all police investigations in Surrey," the Canadian law enforcement stated.

It further stated that "there is nothing to indicate this investigation was delayed in any way, either in the initial response or in subsequent investigative steps".

However, the RCMP acknowledged having received a request from an 'international media outlet' on September 23, which contained a list of questions directed at multiple police agencies with a deadline the following day.

"This did not provide an adequate opportunity to respond. Subsequently a story was published which contained inaccurate information on the police response to this homicide," the RCMP statement read.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT), which mostly takes lead on all homicide investigations in Canada, was called out and assumed conduct of the probe Surrey RCMP's support.

"We are confident all necessary investigational steps are being taken to hold those responsible for the homicide accountable," the statement said.

Calling the incident a "public act of violence which has caused members of our community to feel unsafe", the Surrey RCMP said it has increased patrols around gurdwaras and temples.

Further, the Surrey RCMP’s Diversity Unit has met with the Sikh and Hindu communities in the British Colubian city, and the unit continues to work closely with them to foster communication and engagement.

MORE National ARTICLES

Private donation helps attract teachers to rural B.C. with $10,000 cash welcome gifts

Private donation helps attract teachers to rural B.C. with $10,000 cash welcome gifts
A rural school district in the British Columbia Interior has filled a shortfall of teachers with help from an anonymous benefactor who donated $200,000 to welcome new educators. At a time when schools across the province are struggling with staff recruitment and retention, the Gold Trail School District offered $10,000 incentives to attract new teachers, and $15,000 for those who agreed to move to the small town of Lytton which was devastated by fire two years ago.

Private donation helps attract teachers to rural B.C. with $10,000 cash welcome gifts

'There's no one to fill his shoes': Journalist and author Peter C. Newman dies at 94

'There's no one to fill his shoes': Journalist and author Peter C. Newman dies at 94
Veteran journalist and author Peter C. Newman, who held a mirror up to Canada, has died at the age of 94. He died in hospital in Belleville, Ont., Thursday morning from complications related to a stroke he had last year, which caused him to develop Parkinson's disease, his wife Alvy Newman said by phone.

'There's no one to fill his shoes': Journalist and author Peter C. Newman dies at 94

Western Canada a global hot spot over summer months: Climate Central study

Western Canada a global hot spot over summer months: Climate Central study
An analysis has found that Western Canada was one of the global hot spots in a summer that climate change made one of the warmest on record. The extensive study by Climate Central concludes that Canada saw nine days of high temperatures that were made at least three times more likely by greenhouse gases.

Western Canada a global hot spot over summer months: Climate Central study

Morning stabbing in Nanaimo

Morning stabbing in Nanaimo
Police in Nanaimo are looking for a knife used in a stabbing this morning. R-C-M-P say one person was stabbed after an altercation in the 100 block of Victoria Crescent.

Morning stabbing in Nanaimo

Liberals could ask Bank of Canada to stop hiking interest rates: NDP

Liberals could ask Bank of Canada to stop hiking interest rates: NDP
The New Democrats say the federal government should follow the lead of British Columbia's premier and ask the Bank of Canada to stop raising interest rates. Premier David Eby wrote to Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem last week and asked him not to hike rates again as Canadians struggle to pay for food and rent.

Liberals could ask Bank of Canada to stop hiking interest rates: NDP

Children's Ministry refuses to compensate youth it misinformed: B.C. Ombudsperson

Children's Ministry refuses to compensate youth it misinformed: B.C. Ombudsperson
British Columbia's government is refusing to pay a young woman for its own mistakes and the provincial ombudsperson says she may not be the only one harmed. Jay Chalke says the Ministry of Children and Family Development gave the woman incorrect information, leading her to believe she was eligible for government support for post-secondary education worth tens of thousands of dollars. 

Children's Ministry refuses to compensate youth it misinformed: B.C. Ombudsperson