India has suspended visa services for Canadians “till further notice” amid a massive international row following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s assertion of intelligence connecting New Delhi to the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

The announcement of this suspension came via a notice from BLS International, an online visa application center, stating, “Important notice from Indian Mission: Due to operational reasons, with effect from September 21, 2023, Indian visa services have been suspended until further notice. Please keep checking the BLS website for further updates: BLS India Visa Application Centre.”

This development follows the recent killing of Sukha Duneke, a Punjab-origin NIA-wanted gangster, in Winnipeg, Canada, amid inter-gang rivalries. Duneke, associated with the Khalistan movement in Canada, had fled to the country in 2017 using forged documents and was part of the Devinder Bambiha Gang in Punjab.

Duneke’s murder on Wednesday night bears a resemblance to the earlier killing of terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, also during inter-gang warfare in June.

Diplomatic relations between India and Canada took a severe hit on Tuesday, sparked by the Nijjar killing. India retaliated by expelling a senior Canadian diplomat stationed in the country. In response, the High Commissioner of Canada to India, Cameron Mackay, received summons, conveying New Delhi’s decision to expel the diplomat within the next five days.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement, saying, “The decision reflects the Government of India’s growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities.”

This action was taken in response to Canada’s prior expulsion of a high-ranking Indian diplomat.

These diplomatic tensions flared after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in an emergency statement in Parliament on Monday, accused the Indian government of being involved in the fatal shooting of Nijjar. India has vehemently denied these allegations, dismissing them as “absurd and motivated.”

The situation remains fluid as both countries grapple with this escalating diplomatic crisis. (Edited)