Surrey RCMP, SPS refute claims around Hardeep Singh Nijjar investigation

The Surrey RCMP says it is trying to “correct misinformation” around a report out of the U.S. about the initial response to the shooting death of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

In a statement Tuesday, Mounties refuted some of the claims made by the Washington Post in an article published on Sept. 25. In that article, the Post cites “members of the local Sikh community,” who alleged “police were slow to the scene, and disagreement between agencies caused further delay.”

“There was an hours-long tussle between Surrey police and the RCMP. They couldn’t decide who would head the investigation, so there was a delay,” The Washington Post quoted a gurdwara volunteer, identified as Bhupinderjit Singh, as saying.

However, the Surrey RCMP claims that’s not the case.

FILE — Hardeep Singh Nijjar on July 15th, 2022 (OMNI / CityNews Image)

Mounties say the first 911 call about the shooting that ultimately killed Nijjar came in at 8:27 p.m. The RCMP says “the first officers arrived on scene in under four minutes,” with others following shortly after.

With regards to claims about the “disagreement between agencies,” the Surrey RCMP says such an exchange didn’t take place as was reported.

“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. There is nothing to indicate this investigation was delayed in any way, either in the initial response or in subsequent investigative steps,” the statement from the RCMP reads.

The Mounties go on to say that the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team was called, ultimately taking over the investigation “with the continued support of Surrey RCMP.”

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“IHIT takes lead on all homicide investigations in the Lower Mainland with the exception of Delta and Vancouver. We are confident all necessary investigational steps are being taken to hold those responsible for the homicide accountable,” the Surrey RCMP continued.

The detachment says it “received a request from an international media outlet” on Saturday, Sept. 23, with “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 Surrey RCMP added.

The RCMP’s points were also affirmed by the Surrey Police Service (SPS).

“In response to the alleged disagreement over who would take lead on the investigation, this is completely false,” the SPS said in a statement to CityNews earlier Tuesday.

“At this point of the policing transition in Surrey, Surrey RCMP is the current police of jurisdiction with operational control. As such, SPS has been operating with that understanding since deployment for almost 2 years. There would be no debate over this incident as there hasn’t been over the thousands of others attended by SPS and Surrey RCMP officers. Moreover, all officers working here know a homicide would be investigated by IHIT.”

The SPS deferred all other comment to the RCMP, noting its position as the police of jurisdiction.

Eby asserts ‘confidence in the federal RCMP’

B.C. Premier David Eby was asked about the critical Washington Post article Tuesday.

He had little to say about the situation, saying he was “very ill placed to comment” on the specifics of the police investigation into Nijjar’s death.

“I have very limited information which is restricted to what’s in the public realm right now,” he said.

However, Eby asserted his “confidence in the federal RCMP, given that this is a national security investigation, as well as a major crime investigation, to be able to take the steps necessary to preserve evidence and ensure people are brought to justice.”

“I can say though, on the matter of municipal policing in Surrey, that it is clearly time for everybody to understand that we are moving to a municipal force in Surrey. That is what is happening. It is happening in order to ensure that the public is protected, that when they call 911 they get a police response, that it is an adequate police response, and that it is proportionate to the level of crime and concern that they face,” Eby explained. “Any confusion between the RCMP and the Surrey Police (Service) should be resolved as quickly as possible because that is the direction that we are moving (in) and we need everybody moving in this direction.”

Eby went on to say conversations are ongoing with the federal government “about the need for them to be clear about what the future of municipal policing is involving the RCMP.”

Related video: Canadian intelligence suggests India involved in killing of Surrey Sikh leader, says PM

In July, the province’s public safety minister ordered Surrey to stick with its police transition to a municipal force. The police transition, first initiated by former Mayor Doug McCallum, has been a years-long controversy, with current Mayor Brenda Locke being elected with a platform vowing to keep the RCMP.

Nijjar was shot outside of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey on June 18. He died at the scene.

The 45-year-old, who was the temple’s president, was a vocal advocate for an independent Sikh state of Khalistan in India, where he was accused of terrorism and conspiring to murder a Hindu priest.

The Surrey RCMP says it increased patrols around gurdwaras and temples, per community concerns around safety.

The Surrey killing prompted protests outside Indian consulates and accusations of foreign involvement in the murder.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a bombshell announcement, saying Canadian authorities have credible intelligence that India was behind the fatal shooting.

He said on Sept. 18 that, in the weeks prior, agencies had been “actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the government of India and the killing of” Nijjar.

Investigators continue to seek witnesses and further information in Nijjar’s killing. Anyone who would like to speak with IHIT can do so by calling 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or emailing ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.