Khalistani extremists attacked the president of Canada’s Surrey’s Laxmi Narayan Temple’s president Satish Kumar on Wednesday. People familiar with the developments told CNN-News18 that Khalistani separatists were involved in the attack.
Satish Kumar’s residence was subjected to indiscriminate firing with almost 14 rounds being fired at his residence. People close to him said his house was attacked around 2am in the morning (local time).
The temple of which Kumar is the president witnessed at least three attacks allegedly led by Khalistani extremists in the recent past. A peaceful counter-protest was staged last month against the vandalism when the extremists gathered to attack the temple premises.
People mentioned above also told CNN-News18 that Satish and his family may have been attacked for their counter-protest and anti-Khalistan stance.
Indo-Canadian Businessmen Targeted
Over the past couple of months several Indo-Canadian businesses and their owners have been targeted by Khalistani extremists. Their businesses and residences were subjected to open firing and they received voice notes and letters demanding extortion money.
Nawab Motors, a motor showroom owned by an Indo-Canadian businessman, was among the businesses that were targeted along with at least 10 other Indian-owned businesses through extortion letters and voice notes. One group which is identifying itself with the Vicky Gounder group claimed that it attacked the establishment.
Gounder was killed in 2018-19 in an encounter.
An Indo-Canadian business in Brampton was targeted but the law enforcement was able to arrest one person connected to the attack. Andy Dugga, the owner of New Millennium Tyre, was attacked in Brampton.
Firings were also reported from White Rock where a businessman’s home was targeted.
The police said these victims, who are businessmen from Punjab, are contacted through social media platforms and demands for money are made which if they fail to pay they will have no protection from future attacks. The police feel these extortion letters are sent to scare businesses.
Some of these businesses are car showrooms and there is a high craze for cars among Punjabi youth. The attacks targeted these showrooms and bullets struck the showrooms but no one was injured as the attacks happened after office hours.
Lack of Coordination
Government sources familiar with the developments told CNN-News18 that these problems are occurring due to the lack of coordination between the Indian and Canadian agencies as the Canadian agencies are not taking the threats posed by the miscreants seriously.
They said that gangsters are coming to Canada and getting asylum there and are creating safety concerns for the Indian community in Canada. These gangsters who are backed by Pakistani spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), are now not only shooting the videos of the attacks but are also circulating it on social media.
The people mentioned above said it is alarming to see these groups operating from countries like Spain and Portugal as well as from other European countries.
Comments
0 comment