Canada expels six Indian diplomats over 'serious criminal activity'

Canadian law enforcement officials said on Monday that the Indian government and its agents were running a broad criminal network in Canada, with a goal of intimidating and harassing Canadian Sikh separatists.

The stunning accusations marked a grave new step in a dispute between the two nations that has been escalating for nearly two years.

A Canadian government official said that Canada had issued a persona non grata note on Monday morning to India’s High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma, India’s top diplomat there, expelling him, along with a number of other diplomats, for their role in the alleged criminal activity, including extortion and homicide.

The RCMP said an "extraordinary situation" compelled it to publicly disclose information about ongoing investigations into agents of the government of India who have allegedly used a wide variety of entities in Canada and abroad to collect information. 

Duheme said there have been "well over a dozen" credible and imminent threats to members of the South Asian community, specifically members of the pro-Khalistan movement. 

Duheme said RCMP Deputy Commissioner Mark Flynn attempted to meet with law enforcement counterparts in India to present evidence that government agents were involved in criminal activity in Canada.