Canadian authorities have apprehended individuals suspected to be part of an alleged hit squad believed to have been commissioned by the Indian government for the assassination of prominent Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, in June last year.

According to sources familiar with the investigation, the police are exploring potential connections to three other homicides in Canada, including the tragic shooting of an 11-year-old boy in Edmonton.

The alleged hit squad members, who took on various roles such as shooters, drivers, and spotters during the attack on Nijjar at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, were arrested on Friday during police operations conducted across multiple provinces.

Authorities had identified the suspected hit squad members several months ago and had been closely monitoring their activities leading up to the arrests.

Kamalpreet Singh, Karanpreet Singh, and Karan Brar have been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy related to the Nijjar case, as detailed in court filings submitted on Friday in Surrey. However, these charges have yet to be tested in court.

Further details about the investigation are expected to be provided by law enforcement later on Friday.

The information, including undisclosed details, was obtained by CBC News through extensive discussions with senior investigative and government sources, as well as members of the Sikh community. To safeguard the sensitivity of the matter, the sources have requested anonymity, and the identities of the Sikh community members have been withheld due to concerns about their safety.