Indian agents, the RCMP alleged Monday, used a broad range of entities across Canada and abroad to obtain information they later used to target members of the South Asian community.
In comments made on the same day when India expelled six Canadian diplomats and declared its withdrawal of its High Commissioner from Canada after strongly dismissing Ottawa's allegations that linked the envoy to a probe into the killing of Sikh extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, India has been strongly rejecting Canada's charge of involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar's killing last year.
The RCMP has been investigating the murder. India-Canada ties became severely strained after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian agents of a "potential" involvement in the killing last September of Nijjar.
New Delhi said the Canadian charges were "absurd". India has maintained that the principal issue has been the one of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistani elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity.
Indian diplomats and consular officers in Canada made improper use of their official positions to engage in spying activities that included gathering intelligence for and to the benefit of the government of India, directly or through intermediaries, or alternatively, some did so voluntarily or under duress, RCMP said in a statement.
New Delhi has already brushed off the allegations against its diplomats and officials.
Evidence also showed that a wide range of institutions in Canada and abroad had been used by agents of the government of India to gather intelligence, the RCMP alleged.
"Some of these individuals and businesses were bullied and coerced into working for the Indian government. That information is then used to target members of the South Asian community," it said.
"This evidence was presented directly to the government of India officials, appealing to their cooperation in trying to end this violence and also asking our law enforcement agencies to work together to correct these problems," it said.
The RCMP said it hopes to curb these threats through its ties with the government of India and the National Investigation Agency for the ultimate end goal of strengthening the safety and security of the Canadian public and the South Asian community.
"The safety and security of our citizens, regardless of their background or beliefs, remains paramount, the RCMP said, pointing out that they will "not tolerate any form of intimidation, harassment, or harmful targeting of communities or individuals in Canada.".
India had been insisting that its "core issue" with Canada remained that of the space given to separatists, terrorists, and anti-India elements in that country.
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