OSOYOOS, B.C, January 14, 2004
In India, Bhandol was convicted and given a life sentence
in 1975 for murder, kidnapping, attempted murder, obstruction and other
charges. In 1978, he lost his appeal, he jumped bail and fled
to Canada in 1980 where he acquired the Canadian citizenship.
He withheld this information in his immigration petition.
During a roadside check on Highway 97 in the Osoyoos
area, Malkiat Singh Bhandol was caught. He is also a suspected terrorist.
Bhandol held a B.C. driver’s licence showing a Surrey address.
'He had changed his name back in the '80s. He had been making a living
as a fruit grower in the Okanagan for many years, leading a quiet life
with his wife and two children.
he now faces not only the loss of Canadian citizenship
for “misrepresentation” in his immigration petition, but also
deportation to India followed by a life term in Ludhiana jail.The federal
Justice Department has agreed to assist in the extradition process.
Indian authorities also suspect him of being a terrorist
known as "Meeta." Police in Punjab say Meeta took part in
terrorist activities from 1978 to 1980, just before Singh came to Canada.
In India, case was closed, a complaint was filed before the Canadian
Citizen and Immigration Department by relatives of the murdered person,
highlighting the fact that the man was a murder convict and had lied
in his immigration petition about his criminal record.
A Candian Federal Court conducted a four-day trial in
Ludhiana, during which time they examined witnesses in the original
murder trial before the sessions court. Tthe case would have far reaching
ramifications for potential Canadian immigrants, besides strengthening
people’s faith in the Indian and Canadian judicial systems