Firing at Kapil Sharma’s Surrey café; Babbar Khalsa operative claims responsibility

“Upon police arrival, it was quickly determined that the shots were fired towards the business, damaging the property, while staff members were still present inside,” noted a Surrey Police news release issued Thursday (July 10). RCMP said no one was injured.

Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton told Surrey-Now Leader that “the motive has not yet been determined.” The Surrey Police Service Frontline Investigative Support (FLIS) Team is leading the probe and examining possible connections to other recent incidents of extortion. Police said there is “no suspect information to share”.

Meanwhile, Harjit Singh Laddi, an operative of the banned terror group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and one of India’s most wanted men listed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), has claimed responsibility for the attack in a social media post. He along with one Toofan Singh cited anger over certain remarks allegedly made by Kapil Sharma on Nihangs as the motive behind the shooting.

Sharma, known for his long-running comedy show, had only last weekend launched Kap’s Café along with his wife Ginni Chatrath.

The menace of extortions

This attack comes close on the heels of a spate of extortions wracking the South Asian community in Vancouver. Earlier this month, the RCMP charged two individuals with gun and arson offences in connection with a series of extortion attempts targeting business owners in Surrey last year.

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, followed by acts of violence or property damage 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, “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, he organised a public forum in Surrey to highlight how extortionists were increasingly targeting South Asian Canadian business owners.

Last month, Rajasthan-origin gangster Rohit Godara claimed responsibility for the killing of a businessman identified as M.P. Dhanoa on Rutherford Road in Brampton. This marked the gang’s second killing in the region, following the murder of Harjit S. Dhadda in Mississauga earlier the same month.

Singers, a target

Punjabi singers have also faced attacks in the past. In November 2023, the home of Punjabi singer Gippy Grewal in White Rock was targeted in a shooting incident. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility.

The same gang had also claimed responsibility for a shooting at Punjabi singer AP Dhillon’s house on Vancouver Island in September 2024.

RCMP later arrested 25-year-old Abjeet Kingra of Winnipeg and issued an arrest warrant for 23-year-old Virkam Sharma, who they said had returned to India.

Condemning the shooting, Maninder Gill, Friends of Canada& India Foundation’s President, said: “Canada is a a champion of entrepreneurship and free enterprise, but criminal incidents targeting businesses for extortions have instilled fear in the community. The attack on Kapil Sharma’s KAP’s Cafe is despicable and I urge the Surrey Police & RCMP to take stringent action against the culprits , as this incident will bring international disrepute to the city of Surrey. I urge Canada and India to enhance cooperation between law enforcement agencies to crack down on transnational crime.”