Amid a rift over the killing of a Sikh separatist leader on Canadian soil, India has suspended visa services for Canadian citizens.

According to BBC News, Canada earlier this week said it was investigating “credible allegations” linking India with the murder – an accusation India has denied.

Visa service provider BLS posted a message from India’s mission blaming “operational reasons” for the decision to suspend services.

India’s foreign ministry refused to comment to BBC News on the matter.

The move comes one day after India issued an advisory urging its citizens travelling to or living in Canada to “exercise utmost caution.”

Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday announced investigations into whether “agents of the government of India” were involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Nijjar was a Canadian citizen but India had designated him a terrorist in 2020.