Surrey police, city urge community to come forward after summer shootings at Bollywood star’s café

The community around a prominent Surrey café is still on edge after the restaurant was targeted by gunfire twice this summer.

Shots were fired at the exterior of Kaps Café — named for its owner and famous Indian comedian and television host Kapil Sharma — on both July 10 and Aug. 7, leaving bullet holes in the windows and walls.

The Surrey Police Service (SPS) says “both investigations remain active” though no arrests have been made.

“SPS has been regularly liaising with residents and business owners in the area surrounding Kap’s, as well as in other areas in Surrey that have been impacted this year by incidents,” Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton explained.

Surrey City Coun. Linda Annis says she knows people living around the café, at the corner of 120 Street and 85 Avenue, are nervous.

“I, too, am hearing a lot of concerns from residents in that neighbourhood and throughout, you know, neighbouring communities as well. Certainly, the South Asian community is being targeted, and they’re fearful of all of this,” said Annis.

She says the community and police need to work together, and anyone with information on the attacks should come forward — anonymously, if necessary.

“Certainly, some people have information about this. Maybe have seen or are familiar with who’s doing this, and the police can’t solve this alone. They need the help of the community.”

She recommends contacting CrimeStoppers to report anonymously.

The SPS is also urging community members with information to do the right thing and come forward before someone is hurt.

Police confirmed that employees were inside the building during both shootings.

“People who have information and are withholding it are both enabling potential future incidents and putting us all at risk,” said Houghton.

The shootings come at a time of heightened focus on the South Asian community in Surrey, following an increase in extortion threats against some businesses and people.

At the time of the most recent shooting, Houghton said, “There is no definitive link to extortions at this time; however, investigators are not ruling it out.”

—With files from Sonia Aslam and Charles Brockman