2 held for Ripudaman Singh Malik's murder in Canada; cops silent on motive

Chandigarh, July 28

The Canadian police have arrested two persons in connection with the targeted killing of Ripudaman Singh Malik, who was acquitted in the tragic 1985 Air India bombing case.

On July 15, Malik was shot dead in Surrey, British Columbia. The motive behind the killing is yet to be ascertained, the police have said.

The accused have been identified as Tanner Fox (21) from Abbotsford, British Columbia, and Jose Lopez (23) from the Vancouver suburb of New Westminster, said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police at a news conference in Surrey on Wednesday.

The Indian Police had earlier named five persons, including radical Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar and gangster Arshdeep Singh, alias Arsh Dala, as the conspirators in the killing of Malik.

The Canadian police, however, did not talk about the conspirators in their media release.

The police were silent on the motive behind the murder. The Indian Police believe Malik was killed ahead of a media interview, promising to expose the radicals. The two accused have been charged with first-degree murder.

“Through conventional investigative techniques, we were able to identify and arrest two suspects in relation to this homicide. Both of these individuals are known to the police,” said Superintendent Mandeep Mooker, a spokesperson for the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.

Charged with first-degree murder

• The accused are Tanner Fox (21) from Abbotsford, BC, and Jose Lopez (23) from Vancouver suburb of New Westminster
• They have been charged with first-degree murder in the targeted shooting of Ripudaman Singh Malik
• The two have a criminal history, with both charged separately for assault and possessing weapons