Canadian authorities have arrested Inderjeet Singh Gosal, a prominent figure in the Khalistani separatist movement and the main coordinator for the proscribed group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) in Canada. Gosal’s apprehension on September 23, 2025, marks a significant escalation in law enforcement’s efforts to curb the activities of SFJ, a group that advocates for a Sikh homeland to be carved out of India, according to reporting from IANS and other sources.
The arrest did not occur in a vacuum. Gosal, who had assumed leadership from Hardeep Singh Nijjar, is believed to have played a central role in organizing several referendums seeking support for the creation of a separate Khalistan nation, specifically carved out of the Indian state of Punjab. His activities, and those of the SFJ, have long been a point of contention between India and Canada, with both countries’ security agencies regularly sharing intelligence on the group and related outfits, such as Babbar Khalsa International.
While Babbar Khalsa International has historically been associated with armed struggle, Indian officials have repeatedly warned that SFJ, led by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, poses a unique and potent threat due to its sophisticated propaganda machinery and extensive reach on social media. According to IANS, Indian officials have described SFJ as “far more dangerous,” not because of firepower, but for its ability to create a perception of legitimacy around the Khalistan movement. “The SFJ runs the propaganda wing of the Khalistan movement, and it is dangerous since it manages to create a perception that their struggle is genuine,” Indian officials told IANS.
The group’s online campaigns have not only focused on advocating for Khalistan but have also repeatedly targeted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a particularly alarming development, SFJ has even called for Modi’s assassination, a move that has further heightened tensions between New Delhi and Ottawa. The group’s tactics are not limited to rhetoric; officials allege that SFJ has attempted to infiltrate the widespread farmers’ protests in India with the aim of radicalizing Sikh participants and encouraging them to rise up against the Indian government.
Despite these efforts, both Indian and Canadian authorities acknowledge that only a small minority of the Sikh diaspora in Canada has been swayed by SFJ’s message. Yet, as officials from both countries have emphasized, even a small number of radicalized individuals can be enough to disrupt peace and propagate extremist ideologies. “Even if the number of those radicalised may be smaller, these people are enough to disrupt peace and spread their propaganda,” officials from both sides agreed, as reported by IANS.
India’s concerns about the group’s activities in Canada are longstanding. New Delhi has repeatedly warned Ottawa that Khalistani separatists are using Canadian soil as a launch pad for operations targeting India. To support its claims, India has shared multiple dossiers with Canadian authorities, detailing the SFJ’s alleged coordination with other terrorist groups and criminal gangs to carry out targeted killings and terror attacks within India. These documents, according to Indian officials, “clearly prove the role of the SFJ in coordinating with other terror groups and gangsters to carry out targeted killings and terror attacks in India.”
For Canadian agencies, the threat is not merely theoretical. There is growing concern that the violence associated with the Khalistan movement could spill over onto Canadian streets. This anxiety is not unfounded; Gosal’s arrest is directly linked to his alleged involvement in a violent attack on the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton on November 3, 2024. The incident sent shockwaves through the local community and underscored the potential for overseas political conflicts to manifest as violence in Canada.
The SFJ has responded to Gosal’s arrest with characteristic bluster and misinformation. The group confirmed his detention but claimed—falsely, according to Canadian and Indian officials—that the charges were fabricated and that the arrest was actually a case of the Canadian government acting to protect Gosal from an imminent and grave threat posed by the Indian government. The SFJ further invoked the high-profile killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Babbar Khalsa International operative, arguing that the threat to campaigners for the so-called Khalistan referendum remains ongoing. However, as IANS reports, “All these claims made by the SFJ are entirely false.”
This episode is the latest flashpoint in a complex and often fraught relationship between India and Canada. The two countries have engaged in numerous conversations about the risks posed by extremist groups operating across borders. The issue of Khalistani separatism has become a persistent thorn in bilateral ties, with India demanding more robust action from Canada to prevent its territory from being used as a base for anti-India activities.
In a recent sign of diplomatic engagement, Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met with his Canadian counterpart, Nathalie G Drouin, in New Delhi on September 18, 2025. The meeting, according to IANS, resulted in a mutual commitment to non-interference in each other’s internal affairs and an agreement on the importance of reciprocal intelligence sharing. “We discussed our respective security concerns and committed to non-interference, including refraining from transnational repression. We also agreed on the importance of reciprocal exchange of information and mutual responsiveness,” Drouin stated after the meeting.
Observers note that such high-level dialogues are essential for managing tensions and ensuring that legitimate security concerns are addressed without inflaming broader diplomatic disputes. Yet, the challenge remains daunting. The SFJ’s ability to leverage social media to spread its message, as well as its willingness to coordinate with other groups, has complicated efforts to contain its influence. For many in the Sikh diaspora, the Khalistan issue is deeply personal and tied to historical grievances, but most reject violence and extremism.
Meanwhile, the Canadian government finds itself in a delicate position. On the one hand, it must protect the rights and safety of all its citizens, including those who support controversial political causes. On the other, it faces mounting pressure from India to crack down on groups that New Delhi sees as a direct threat to its national security. The arrest of Gosal signals a willingness to take more decisive action, but it also raises questions about how Canada will balance civil liberties with the imperatives of public safety and international cooperation.
As the story of Inderjeet Singh Gosal’s arrest continues to unfold, it serves as a stark reminder of how globalized political movements can reverberate far beyond their places of origin, challenging governments to find new ways to collaborate and confront the dangers of extremism—wherever it may arise.
