Rahat Rao, a Canadian-Pakistani man suspected of being an agent for Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), was reportedly attacked and set on fire at his Surrey, British Columbia, office.
The incident occurred amidst ongoing investigations into Rao's potential involvement in the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and broader tensions between India and Canada.
Sources indicate that an unidentified individual visited Rao's forex business under the pretense of conducting a money exchange and subsequently set him ablaze before fleeing the scene. Rao has been questioned by Canadian authorities regarding Nijjar's murder, which took place outside a Sikh temple in Surrey earlier this year.
This attack further intensifies the already strained relationship between India and Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau previously alluded to the possible involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar's killing, a claim India vehemently denies. In the aftermath of the murder, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) searched Rao's office and questioned him extensively about his connections to Nijjar.
Sources suggest that Rao, along with another individual named Tariq Kiyani, are suspected ISI operatives actively working within Canada. They are alleged to be involved in facilitating the activities of wanted terrorists from India and are believed to have played a role in Nijjar's death, potentially motivated by a desire to control the lucrative drug and immigration trade.
While the exact circumstances surrounding Rao's attack remain unclear, it underscores the complex and volatile nature of the ongoing investigations and diplomatic tensions. Law enforcement agencies are actively pursuing leads in both the attack and Nijjar's murder, seeking to bring those responsible to justice.
