A family member of federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh was warned by police of a threat to his life earlier this year.
Mr. Singh’s brother-in-law, Jodhveer Dhaliwal, was told by Peel Regional Police officers in May that he was in danger, according to a source with knowledge of the warning. The Globe and Mail agreed not to name the source owing to security concerns.
Mr. Dhaliwal, who is married to the sister of Mr. Singh’s wife, is an activist in the pro-Khalistan movement, which advocates for an independent Sikh homeland carved out of India’s Punjab region. He is also related by marriage to Liberal MP Ruby Sahota.
The revelation that a relative of Mr. Singh received a formal “duty to warn” notice comes after the RCMP and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged on Monday that Indian government agents are tied to violence targeting the South Asian community in Canada, including killings, extortions and harassment.
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme also said police had uncovered “well over a dozen credible and imminent threats to life,” which have triggered duty-to-warn notifications by law enforcement. He said the targets were individuals involved in the pro-Khalistan movement.
Police use the warnings to tell someone that their life is in danger. A number of Sikh activists across Canada have said they have received such notices in recent years, but that they were not told about the nature of the threats against them.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed on the grounds of a B.C. Sikh gurdwara last year, had also received such a warning, according to his son. Mr. Trudeau alleged in Parliament last year that Canada had credible intelligence that Indian government agents were behind Mr. Nijjar’s death. The Indian government, which had designated Mr. Nijjar a terrorist, has denied any involvement.
Nina Amrov, a spokeswoman for Mr. Singh, declined to comment on security matters related to the leader or his family.
Mr. Dhaliwal was charged with assault causing bodily harm after an incident at a February, 2021, rally in Brampton, Ont., in which Sikh activists clashed with demonstrators supporting the Indian government. The rally coincided with large-scale protests by farmers in India over proposed agricultural reforms.
The charge against Mr. Dhaliwal was withdrawn in June, 2021, and a judge issued a 12-month peace bond after he completed anger management counselling, according to Keesha Seaton, a spokeswoman for the provincial Ministry of the Attorney-General.
On Monday, the Mounties took the rare step of warning the public about alleged criminal activity by Indian government agents related to multiple continuing investigations. The force did not provide details.
India denies the allegations.
Ottawa expelled six Indian diplomats, including the high commissioner, after the government said India refused to allow the officials to participate in the investigations. For its part, India expelled six Canadian diplomats.
B.C. police announced in May that four Indian citizens living in Canada had been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in May in relation to Mr. Nijjar’s June, 2023, death.
India has repeatedly criticized the Canadian government for being soft on those involved in the Sikh independence movement, which it views as a security threat.
With reports from Jeff Gray and Stephanie Chambers