KV Correspondent

Canada Bars Entry of CRPF Officer, Cites ‘Systemic Human Rights Abuses’

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A retired inspector general of the CRPF was denied entry into Canada with airport authorities at Vancouver saying this was because he had served in an organisation that allegedly engaged in “terrorism” and “gross human rights violations”, prompting a strong reaction from India, PTI, a news gathering agency reported.

S. Dhillon landed in Canada with his wife on May 18 and was put on the return flight to India on May 20.

His wife was, however, allowed to proceed to her destination in Canada.

“I landed with my wife in Canada on May 18 as I had a family event to attend. But the Canadian border agency at the airport did not allow me to enter the country.

“I told them that I am a retired senior officer of the Indian police, the CRPF. But, they did not heed my statements and instead talked to me very rudely and in an unpleasant manner. They told me that my force had indulged in human rights violations,” Dhillon told PTI.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay termed the characterisation of a reputed force like the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) as “completely unacceptable”.

“We have seen the news report regarding denial of entry by Canadian authorities to a senior retired Indian Police Officer. Such a characterisation of a reputed force like the CRPF is completely unacceptable. We have taken up the matter with the Government of Canada,” Baglay said.

Dhillon retired from the Central Reserve Police Force as an Inspector General (IG) in 2010.

Earlier, indo-Canadian ties took a dip when defense minister of Canada visited India on April 19. Accordign to the reports, Harjit Sajjan got cold reception when he visited India in April this year.

Ahead of his visit to his native Punjab, reportedly Punjab Chief Minister Amrinder Singh called him a ‘Khalastani’.

“I won’t meet him. There are five ministers who are Khalistanis and I am not interested in meeting any Khalistanis,” Amarinder Singh was quoted by the media.

 


KV Correspondent

Kashmir Correspondent cover all daily updates for the newspaper

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