Canada and India have each expelled six diplomats in tit-for-tat moves as part of an escalating dispute over the June 2023 assassination of a Sikh activist in Canada.

India ordered the expulsion of six Canadian diplomats on Monday and withdrew its own envoy from Canada, in response to what it said was Ottawa's decision to name him and others as "persons of interest" in an investigation.

Canada expelled India’s top diplomat in the country and five others over last year's killing of a Sikh activist in British Columbia. India rejected the charges and said it would expel Canadian envoys.