India has suspended issuance of visas to Canadian citizens "till further notice.”
BLS International — a private service provider hired for initial scrutiny of visa applications — published a notice on its website saying the visa services have been suspended till further notice “due to operational reasons,” reports NDTV.
Also read: How India’s relations with Canada hit rock bottom
This comes as India and Canada are locked in a diplomatic row over Ottawa's claim that it has "credible” evidence linking New Delhi to the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan Sikh separatist.
Also read: India asks citizens to be careful if traveling to Canada as rift widens over Sikh leader’s death
The Indian foreign ministry has rejected the allegation as "absurd" and "motivated".
It is not yet clear if the suspension of visas is linked to that row, according to NDTV.
Also read: Who was Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Sikh activist whose killing has divided Canada and India?