Canada without “evidentiary proof” accused India of getting designated pro-Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar killed on its soil. On the contrary, the Trudeau administration is yet to acknowledge what New Delhi calls irrefutable evidence about the Canadian Border Security Agency harbouring the wanted mastermind of Shaurya Chakra awardee Balwinder Singh Sandhu’s October 2020 assassination in Punjab’s Tarn Taran.In an emailed response, CBSA confirmed to TOI that Sandeep Singh Sidhu, aka Sunny Toronto, was an employee but denied he was involved in any crime in India.He is a member of the banned International Sikh Youth Federation, which is one of the reasons why India has put him on its list of fugitives charged with promoting terrorist activities from Canada.ALSO READ: Brampton Temple Attack: MEA condemns the attack, says won't be deterred by 'intimidation & violence'How Sidhu masterminded the killing of Sandhu, a teacher who was conferred Shaurya Chakra for his role in fighting militancy, is among the subplots in a larger anti-India conspiracy involving Pakistan’s ISI, sources told TOI.Meanwhile, denying any involvement, CBSA wrote “All CBSA employees are subject to background checks and reviews prior to their employment, periodically all throughout their career and in response to allegations that call into question their reliability. CBSA can confirm we have no evidence to support allegations made against him.”Intelligence sources said Sidhu, whose extradition India has officially demanded, operates in “close coordination” with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, while officially being part of CBSA.ALSO READ: Khalistani protest turns violent in Canada, devotees attacked near Hindu Temple; PM Trudeau condemnsPakistan's ISI involved:During the investigation into Sandhu's assassination, several agencies, including the NIA, uncovered how Sidhu and his ISI handlers manipulated Gurjit Singh, a 'hitman' with an obsession for an underage girl, by blackmailing him into carrying out the murder.Gurjot Kaur, the US-based widow of former Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) chief Harmeet Singh, alias Happy PhD, was another piece on ISI’s chessboard.ALSO READ: India hitting back? Canada's border police officer named in terror caseISI promised Gurjit and his arrested accomplices — Sukhdeep Singh and Inderjeet Singh — money and shelter in Canada in return for murdering Sandhu. The plot took shape in the spring of 2020. Those tasked with coordinating the hit were Dubai-based gangster Sukh Bhikhariwal and Sidhu.The duo acted on the instructions of ISI henchman and pro-Khalistan terrorist Lakhbir Singh Rode, who died in Pakistan last December.Sidhu had established links with ISI through Gurjot, wanted in India for coordinating terrorist activity from her base in the US.The hired shooters received sophisticated weapons and training in Sept 2020, sources told TOI.On October 16, Gurjit and his associates arrived at Sandhu's home and school in Bhikhiwind, fully clad in black. The location of the target was provided to them via intermediaries, two gangsters named Ravinder Singh, also known as Gyani, and Sukhraj Sukkha, who were in Ferozepur Jail.That morning, Sandhu opened the door presuming it was the milkman. The shooters barged in and fired, killing him instantly. They threw their bike in the Sutlej and fled to Ludhiana, where they stayed in a house in Salem Tibri that Sidhu and Bhikhariwal had arranged for them.Prior to Sandhu’s murder, the family had faced 16 attacks in a year. In one of these, Sandhu and his wife fought back a group of terrorists for five hours using weapons provided by the govt. By Dec 2020, Delhi Police’s special cell tracked down Gurjit and Sukhdeep. Bhikhariwal was extradited from Dubai and a manhunt started for Sidhu. The third shooter, Inderjeet, was arrested while trying to flee to Dubai. Inderjeet confessed that two Khalistani terrorists based abroad contacted him in March 2020 after noticing his Facebook posts.He said one of them identified himself as Sidhu aka Sunny, a resident of Canada, and tasked him with doing a recce of Sandhu’s residence. Sidhu later helped him get in touch with Bhikhariwal. Sidhu also sent him a flight ticket and e-visa to Dubai.(With TOI inputs)