Kapil Sharma’s new cafe, Kap’s Cafe, in Surrey, Canada, became the target of gunfire late night yesterday. Eight shots were fired at the cafe, but thankfully, no one was injured. Harjit Singh Laddi, a member of the banned Khalistani group Babbar Khalsa, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Laddi and Toofan Singh, both Khalistani operatives, posted online claiming they were angry over Kapil Sharma’s comments about Nihangs, a Sikh warrior group. They accused Sharma of disrespecting the community, leading to their violent retaliation. Sharma, famous for his comedy shows, had just opened Kap’s Cafe with his wife, Ginni Chatrath. The attack happened around 1:50 a.m. when the cafe was still open, but no staff members were hurt.
The Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), a group banned in multiple countries, has a history of violence linked to Khalistani separatism. This shooting is part of a broader trend of Khalistani extremists using violence to punish anyone they perceive as disrespecting their cause. Just days earlier, the community faced extortion attempts and threats aimed at business owners. This pattern of violence is growing, with the RCMP investigating possible links between these events and organized crime.
This shooting follows a wave of extortions in Surrey, with several business owners targeted for large sums of money. Satish Kumar, president of Lakshmi Narayan Mandir Temple, was among the victims, receiving a $2 million extortion demand. He faced threats after refusing to pay, leading to two separate shooting incidents aimed at him. This is not the first time the South Asian community has faced such intimidation. The RCMP has made some arrests, but the extortion attempts continue.
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The RCMP is still investigating the shooting, and authorities are working to uncover the full motive behind the attack. With no suspects named yet, the question remains: will this violence escalate, or will law enforcement manage to curb these extremist actions?