NE Watch Desk
In an attack on prominent Hindu businessman of Indian-origin, suspected separatist radicals shot 14 rounds of fire at his residence. He is the eldest son of Lakshmi Narayan Mandir president Satish Kumar and resides in Canada’s Surrey. The Surrey Royal Canadian Mounted Police or RCMP, acting quickly, has initiated a probe into the incident.
The firing took place in the early morning at around 8:03 on December 27. However, fortunately no one was injured during the untoward incident, as per police.
The residence walls sustained damages due to constant firing and many bullet holes can be seen, as per Surrey Police Media Relations Officer Constable Parmbir Kahlon.
The house is situated in the 14900 block of 80 Avenue. Police stayed in the locality, evaluating the scene, talking with eye witnesses and canvassing the area for CCTV footage to gather more information.
Till now, the perpetrators and the motive behind this incident are not detected. The Surrey Police has asked people having any information, including dash cam footage of the incident, to contact them.
Satish Kumar, while speaking to the police, shared he wasn’t sure about the attacker, if they were “Khalistanis or some extortionist”. However, the temple was targeted by alleged Khalistani radicals thrice in the past, he added.
Yet, no links have been established regarding the attack with recent threats received by the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, as per the Surrey Police.
Past Incidents
Last month, Indian-origin Canadian Member of Parliament Chandra Arya had shared a purported clip of Pro Khalistani sympathisers in Surrey. In the video, the supporters said they want to create trouble at the Hindu Lakshmi Narayan Mandir there.
Arya further shared about a Sikh family, which were verbally abused outside a Gurdwara in Surrey by Khalistan supporters. He indicated, now the same group wanted to create trouble at the Hindu Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey.
He noted, “In the past, Hindu temples have been attacked multiple times. Hate crimes are on rise against the Hindu-Canadians.”
Many Hindu temple vandalism incidents occurred in Canada:
- A Hindu temple was defaced with anti-India graffiti in Brampton in January.
- The Ram Mandir was vandalised with anti-India graffiti in Mississauga in February.
- BAPS Swaminarayan temple was vandalised with anti-India graffiti in Windsor in April.
