New Delhi: Shots were fired on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday at television host Kapil Sharma’s newly opened café in Canada. Unconfirmed videos doing the rounds on social media show armed men firing at Kap’s Café in Surrey, British Columbia, which began operations last weekend.
Multiple bullets were reportedly fired at the establishment but no injuries have been reported.
“Surrey Police Service (SPS) officers are investigating a shots fired incident at a Newton neighbourhood business. On Thursday, July 10, at 1:50 am, Surrey Police Service was called to a business located in the 8400 block of 120 Street for a report of shots fired. 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. There were no injuries to anyone at the business. SPS officers gathered evidence and canvassed the area for witnesses and surveillance video,” Surrey Police said in a statement.
“This investigation is continuing and connections to other incidents and potential motives are being examined. There is currently no suspect information available to share,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, in a purported post on Facebook, Harjit Singh alias Laddi has claimed responsibility for the shooting. Laddi is a known member of the banned terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). He is also one of India’s most wanted men, according to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) list. The NIA had last year announced a Rs 10 lakh reward to his name. The BKI is a designated terror outfit under UAPA in India.
Originally from Garpadhana village in the Aur area of Nawanshahr in Punjab, Laddi stands accused of plotting multiple attacks in Punjab.
He is also an accused in the killing of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Vikas Prabhakar in April 2024. The NIA had named Laddi along with BKI’s Pakistan-based chief Wadhawa Singh and others in its chargesheet last year. Laddi is suspected to be based in Germany.
NIA’s probe revealed that Laddi and co-accused Kulbeer Singh alias Sidhu had recruited members into their gang and aided them with logistical support, funds and arms to carry out the murder.
In the purported post Thursday, Laddi while claiming responsibility cited some remarks made in ‘The Kapil Sharma Show’, as the motive behind the attack. The post mentions that a character in the show had made certain remarks on Nihang Sikhs. The post says that Laddi tried contacting Sharma’s manager about it but the calls went unanswered.
The inciting comes amid growing concerns for the Indian diaspora in Canada.
Last September shots were fired outside Punjabi performer A.P. Dhillon’s house on Victoria Island in Vancouver. Fugitive gangster Rohit Godara claimed responsibility for the incident in a purported social media post.
In November 2023, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for a shooting outside Gippy Grewal’s house in Vancouver.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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