India suspends visas for Canadians as row escalates

India has suspended visa services for Canadian citizens, in a new escalation of the diplomatic dispute between the two countries. This comes after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of planning a extrajudicial killing of a separatist leader in Canada.

Bloomberg News reported that PLC International, which operates Indian visa application centers in Canada, issued a memo saying that visa services would be suspended indefinitely due to "technical reasons" starting Thursday.

India had previously asked its citizens in Canada and those traveling to the country to register with its embassy amid the ongoing deterioration of relations between the two countries.

Bloomberg News quoted a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying: "In light of the increasing anti-India activities, hate crimes, and criminal violence, politically condoned in Canada, we urge all Indian citizens to exercise 'utmost caution.'"