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The Canada Border Agency said it is committed to protecting its staff from threats and harassment — if incidents occur “on the job or as a direct result of their duties.”
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) was responding to officers’ allegations that the department abandoned it when India used it in the disinformation campaign.
ua lawsuit filed in Ottawa last week, Sandeep Singh Sidhu claimed the Indian government falsely labeled him a terrorist to get back at Canada amid a diplomatic row.
After Canada accused India of assassinating a Sikh leader in BC in 2023, Indian media countered that Sidhu was wanted for a fatal terrorist attack in 2020 and was employed in Ottawa.
The news brought the accusations to India NIA counter terrorism policeand used a photo of Sidhu that he had only provided to the Indian government when applying for a travel visa.
The Indian press coverage he argued that Canada’s employment of an alleged terrorist in a national security job was “hypocrisy” and undermined Ottawa’s criticism of New Delhi.
A border guard for two decades, Sidhu said he had never been involved in terrorism and was used by India because he has a common Sikh name and a visible, uniformed job in Canada’s national security apparatus.
As a result of these allegations, Sidhu faced threats from supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including an X post that showed his home in Abbotsford, BC, and said, “Go kill him.”
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But when Sidhu notified the CBSA and asked for help, his superiors told him the matter was unrelated to work and refused to provide any assistance, the lawsuit alleged.
In response to questions about the case, the CBSA said in a statement that it received the complaint on Dec. 2 and was therefore unable to comment, but said it supports its staff when warranted.
“The Canada Border Services Agency is committed to protecting, supporting and assisting employees and their families if they face harassment, assault or threats against them or their property while on the job or as a direct result of their duties.”
One of the Toronto lawyers representing Sidhu, Jeffrey Kroeker, disputed the statement, arguing that the Indian government only targeted his client because he was wearing a CBSA uniform.
“The CBSA knew the risk was real, especially since Mr. Sidhu brought the matter to CBSA’s attention and because the very reason for the disinformation campaign was that Canada was accusing India of carrying out an assassination on Canadian soil,” he said.
“The CBSA clearly knew his life was in danger precisely because he was a CBSA officer and wearing the uniform of Canada, and they did nothing to help him. Worse, they mocked him, made his situation worse and turned their backs on him in his most vulnerable time of need.”
The Indian High Commission in Ottawa did not respond to requests for comment on the case. Indian news outlets contacted by Global News also did not respond.
The Canadian government cleared Sidhu of the Indian charges, finding there was nothing to them, but he has struggled to recover from what his lawyers called an “orchestrated campaign of disinformation.”
India has long tried to portray Canada as overrun by terrorists who support the independence of what is known as Khalistan, the Punjab region of the Sikh-majority South Asian country.
Although Canadian security intelligence says only a small number of Khalistan supporters are extremists, India has described it as a threat and demanded action.
After June 18, 2023 the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjaras well as a number of other violent crimes linked to Indian agents, Canada expelled diplomats suspected of involvement in the attacks.
But since taking office, Prime Minister Mark Carney has sought to mend ties with India in hopes of negotiating a trade deal amid the White House’s imposition of tariffs on Canadian exports.
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
