Surrey shooting linked to 2023 killing of Sikh activist: community members
Posted February 2, 2024 6:48 am.
Last Updated February 2, 2024 6:59 am.
We’re learning more details about a shooting in Surrey early Thursday morning which targeted a home around 28 Avenue and 154 Street.
The B.C. Gurdwara Council says the target was Simranjeet Singh — an associate of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a high-profile pro-Khalistan activist who was shot and killed in broad daylight outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey in 2023.
Listen to CityNews 1130 LIVE now!His killing prompted anger, confusion, and backlash within the community and tense relations between India and Canada, with the prime minister saying last fall the federal government had credible information that India was behind the killing. Nijjar was wanted by India at the time of his death.
The council’s Moninder Singh spoke at the temple Thursday evening and admitted this latest violence has left people on edge.
“This is where people feel safe. This is where people feel we as a community can make a stand, even though this is the same place that Hardeep Singh was assassinated, this is still our place to go as a community and we can’t let fear not let us gather,” he said.
Moninder says the shooting happened soon after Simranjeet, who’s said to be in his mid-30s, arrived home.
“There were approximately five or six individuals [at home]. His wife, his kids and possibly his parents. Where the shooting happened, it went through the front of the house, it narrowly missed him sitting in the front living room and the shooting also extended to a bedroom upstairs where his six-year-old son was sleeping, and it went through his headboard and missed his head by about a foot.”
Moninder added his take on a possible motive, which Surrey RCMP says it’s still investigating.
“This isn’t extortion, this isn’t a local matter, this isn’t a personal matter, this is a political matter,” said Moninder. “It’s extended, now again, from New Delhi, and landed in our lap in Canada which is extremely unfortunate.”
He says the Mounties have been working with them, but the community continues to seek clarity.
“The police has been very receptive of information that’s being passed on. One thing we do need to clarify with them is where is that information going and are they putting any measures in place. We’re unaware of that. Simranjeet is unaware of the information he provided and what was done with it, so maybe there are some follow-up issues and communication gaps.”
Investigators say no one was hurt in the shooting.
The Surrey RCMP Major Crime Section is leading the investigation and calls this an isolated incident. It’s asking for anyone with information, including CCTV and dashcam footage, to come forward.
