A restaurant recently launched by comedian Kapil Sharma in Surrey, British Columbia, in Canada came under fire on Wednesday night, with multiple bullets hitting the café and neighbouring buildings. While no injuries were reported, the attack has triggered concern among local residents and the Indian diaspora in the area.
Owned by Sharma and named Kap’s Café, the restaurant was opened last weekend in the heart of Surrey and had quickly become a popular spot for the Indian community.
According to Surrey police, several rounds were fired at the property. Bullet marks were found on the café’s façade as well as on nearby residential buildings. The area was sealed off, CCTV footage is being scanned, and spent bullet casings have been recovered. A forensic investigation is underway.
The shooting has been claimed by Harjit Singh Laddi, an alleged terrorist of the banned Khalistani outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), and one of India’s most wanted men listed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Laddi reportedly said the attack was carried out in anger over remarks allegedly made by Sharma.
The comedian, best known for his long-running television comedy shows, has not yet issued a public statement. Authorities are investigating whether the firing was meant as an act of personal intimidation or part of a broader pattern of threats linked to pro-Khalistan extremists operating abroad.
No arrests have been made so far. Police said all leads are being pursued to identify and locate the attackers.
Earlier this month, two individuals were charged with gun and arson offenses in connection with a series of extortion attempts that targeted South Asian business owners in Surrey last year, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The RCMP said the arrests followed a joint investigation launched in late 2023, involving police forces in British Columbia, other parts of Canada, and international agencies.
Victims had reported receiving threats demanding large sums of money, with acts of violence or property damage occurring when those demands were not met. No injuries were reported.
Satish Kumar, president of the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir Temple and owner of Reflections Banquet Hall, was among those targeted. He said the arrests were a positive step, but noted that the extortion attempts had not ceased. “It was good to hear about the arrests,” he said and added “but the threats have not stopped.” Kumar had received a $2 million extortion demand and said he was threatened after refusing to pay. He was later targeted in two separate shooting incidents.
Last month, Kumar organised a public forum in Surrey to highlight how extortionists were increasingly targeting South Asian Canadian business owners. He said that speaking out and refusing to pay had made him a continued target drivers. He said that speaking out and refusing to pay had made him a continued target.
Written by Manraj Grewal Sharma
English
Hindi
Marathi