Canada: Police probing firing incident at residence of Indian-origin person in Surrey

Reports of gunfire inflicting property damage at the Surrey, British Columbia, home of an Indian businessman have prompted Canadian police to open an inquiry.

Gunshots were fired on Wednesday at the Surrey home of Satish Kumar’s son, the president of Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, according to multiple media reports.

The temple made headlines last month when its adherents quashed a Sikhs for Justice protest against the secessionist organization’s demonstration over the June 18 murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey.

Surrey Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is “investigating a report of shots fired at a residence in the early morning of December 27,” according to a press release released by the police on Thursday.

According to Surrey Police’s Media Relations Officer, Constable Parmbir Kahlon, shots were fired at a house in the 14900 block of 80 Avenue on Wednesday morning at around 8:03 a.m. The Surrey RCMP responded to the complaint.

“No one was injured during the incident, but the residence involved sustained damage consistent with bullet holes,” the release said without divulging the identity of the resident.

While they were still there, police continued to investigate the site, talk to witnesses, and search the neighbourhood for CCTV evidence. According to the announcement, investigators are still trying to figure out why this incident happened.

Over the past few years, Hindu temples in Canada have allegedly been vandalised numerous times by supporters of Khalistani.

Amid the diplomatic dispute between India and Canada about the killing of Nijjar on Canadian soil, Khalistani activists have placed placards on the gate and walls of the Surrey temple that are directed at Indian diplomats.

(With agency inputs)