Killers of Kanishka Bombing Suspect Plead Guilty in Canada

The two individuals responsible for the murder of Ripudaman Singh Malik, a suspect in the Air India Kanishka bombing, are facing sentencing after pleading guilty in a Canadian court on Monday. The court in New Westminster, British Columbia, accepted the guilty pleas from Tanner Fox and Jose Lopez.

Malik was shot dead on July 14, 2022, in Surrey, British Columbia. He had been a prime accused in the 1985 Air India bombings that resulted in the deaths of 331 people, although he was later acquitted of all charges. The court has scheduled a sentencing date for Fox and Lopez on October 31.

In a statement released by Malik’s family, they expressed gratitude that justice is being served but emphasized the need for the two men to cooperate with authorities to identify those who hired them. "Tanner Fox and Jose Lopez were hired to commit the murder," the statement read, highlighting the family's belief that the investigation remains incomplete.

The motive behind Malik's murder remains unclear. It has been suggested that he had an ongoing feud with Khalistani leader Hardeep Nijjar over the printing of copies of the Guru Granth Sahib in Canada. Nijjar himself was killed by gunmen a year later in Surrey.

Canadian police have indicated a connection between the two murders, although no substantial evidence has been presented thus far. The unfolding circumstances have raised questions about the broader implications and the identities of those orchestrating the violence.