Khalistani terrorist Arsh Dalla arrested in Canada after shootout: Sources

Arshdeep Singh, also known as Arsh Dalla, a top Khalistani terrorist and one of India’s most-wanted criminals, has been arrested in Canada following his suspected involvement in a shootout on October 27 or 28, 2024, in Milton, Ontario. The arrest was made after a violent confrontation that local law enforcement agencies, particularly the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS), are investigating. Indian security agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), have confirmed receiving updates about Dalla's detention. Sources revealed that the arrest was made based on his role in the shootout, although further details are still being investigated by Canadian authorities.

Dalla, born in Moga, Punjab, and a former chief of the Khalistani Tiger Force (KTF), has been living in Canada for several years. In India, he is accused of orchestrating numerous criminal activities, including targeted killings, extortion, terror financing, and smuggling of weapons and drugs across borders. He has been implicated in the 2024 murder of Congress leader Baljinder Singh Balli in Punjab, where Dalla took responsibility for the killing. In a statement after the murder, Dalla claimed that Balli had ruined his life and had caused the wrongful imprisonment of his mother, which motivated him to take revenge.

Indian intelligence agencies have been tracking Dalla for years due to his leadership role in KTF, a banned militant group that advocates for the creation of a separate Khalistani state. As part of his operations, Dalla allegedly coordinated various attacks on individuals and institutions, including the targeting of police officers, political figures, and civilians. Punjab Police have arrested multiple individuals linked to Dalla’s network, recovering explosives such as IEDs, hand grenades, and firearms. In addition to Balli's murder, Dalla has been implicated in other high-profile killings in Punjab. The Punjab Police recently arrested two of his operatives in connection with the murder of Sikh activist Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau in Faridkot, as well as the killing of Jasawant Singh Gill in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.

In 2023, Dalla was formally designated a terrorist by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, which cited his direct involvement in terror-related activities, including financing terror groups and instigating violence in Punjab. Dalla’s criminal network is known to facilitate the smuggling of weapons and drugs from Pakistan into India, with the goal of fueling unrest in the region. Indian authorities have claimed that he has been orchestrating these activities from Canada, where he allegedly established a Khalistani network to further his terror agenda.

The arrest of Dalla comes amidst escalating tensions between India and Canada, particularly since the killing of another Khalistani leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Canada in June 2023. The Indian government rejected allegations made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who accused Indian agents of being involved in Nijjar's assassination. The diplomatic standoff worsened following the attack on the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton, Ontario, by Khalistani extremists on November 3, 2024. India condemned the attack, calling it an act of terrorism, and demanded that those responsible be brought to justice.

This arrest marks a significant development in the fight against Khalistani extremism, both in India and in the diaspora. Indian authorities have expressed their commitment to working closely with Canadian officials to dismantle Khalistani terror networks operating on foreign soil. The cooperation between the two nations is expected to focus on further investigations into Dalla's activities, including his role in financing terrorism, organizing targeted killings, and orchestrating violence to destabilize Punjab. Indian agencies are also looking into his links with other international terror groups and individuals who might be part of the broader Khalistani movement. The investigation is expected to continue as authorities seek to gather more evidence on Dalla's role in a range of criminal enterprises.