A day after reports emerged that the Canadian police took 12 and 20 minutes to arrive at the scene of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar's murder, the Surrey RCMP has released a statement calling the report "misinformation" and claimed that "the first officers arrived on the scene in under four minutes."
The clarification from the Canadian side comes as The Washington Post came out with a report on Nijjar's killing based on video footage and witness description. According to the report published on Tuesday, the murder was a complex operation.
The attackers fired roughly 50 bullets, of which 34 hit Nijjar. A 90-second video clip from the gurdwara security camera revealed a white sedan pursuing Nijjar’s grey truck after it exited its parking spot. As it approaches the exit, the sedan blocks the truck’s path and two masked men in hooded sweatshirts appear from "under a covered waiting area" and approach the truck.
The report said Bhupinderjit Singh, a volunteer at the gurdwara of which Nijjar was the president, was the first to reach the scene to find the Khalistani leader dead. He then attempted to pursue the assailants along with a fellow community member, Gurmeet Singh Toor. However, the shooters managed to get away.
The witnesses told the US media organisation that there was a shocking delay of about 12-20 mins for police to arrive at the scene despite many police officers regularly patrolling the area. The report further added that Surrey police and the RCMP had "an hour-long tussle" over jurisdiction and who would lead the investigation.
However, the Surrey RCMP refuted the reports and claimed that the story contained "inaccurate information."
"On Saturday, September 23, 2023, Surrey RCMP received a request from an international media outlet which contained 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," it said.
The statement added that the first 911 call in relation to this incident was received at 8:27 p.m. and that the first officers arrived on the scene in under four minutes, with more officers arriving on the scene shortly after.
"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."
It added that the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) took over the investigation with the continued support of Surrey RCMP.
The shooters
According to The Washington Post report, Malkit Singh, another gurdwara member, tried to pursue the gunmen on foot in the neighbouring Cougar Creek Park. Singh is reportedly the only one to get a clear look at the shooters.
He reported them as "two men in a Sikh get-up with hoodies pulled over small pughs (turbans) on their heads and masks over their bearded faces." One of them was just over five feet tall and heavy set and struggled to run fast. The other was about 4 inches taller and leaner. They fled on a silver 2008 Toyota Camry, where three men were waiting for them. The men have not been identified yet.