AI Generated Summary
- The probe was later transferred to the Extortion Response Team, which tracked down a suspect vehicle and carried out a coordinated raid at a Surrey property.
- The arrests followed an investigation by the Surrey Police Service into gunfire reported at a residence in Surrey during the early hours of April 22.
- Officers responding to the scene in the 13400 block of 87A Avenue found evidence of bullets striking both a home and a parked vehicle.
Canadian authorities have arrested two Punjabi-origin men in connection with a shooting incident linked to an alleged extortion racket targeting the South Asian community in British Columbia.
The arrests followed an investigation by the Surrey Police Service into gunfire reported at a residence in Surrey during the early hours of April 22. Officers responding to the scene in the 13400 block of 87A Avenue found evidence of bullets striking both a home and a parked vehicle. No injuries were reported in the incident.
The probe was later transferred to the Extortion Response Team, which tracked down a suspect vehicle and carried out a coordinated raid at a Surrey property. The operation involved multiple agencies, including the Lower Mainland District Emergency Response Team and the Canada Border Services Agency.
Police identified the accused as 22-year-old Damanjeet Singh and 30-year-old Pardaman Singh, both described as foreign nationals residing in Canada. Authorities said the men are facing charges related to firing a weapon into an occupied place and possessing restricted firearms without legal authorization.
Investigators alleged that the accused were connected to a wider pattern of violent intimidation and extortion activities that have increasingly affected members of the South Asian diaspora across Canada. Both suspects remain in custody pending court proceedings scheduled later this month and in early June.
Surrey Police have also made public the photographs of the accused, saying the move is aimed at encouraging additional witnesses and victims to come forward. Officials believe more individuals linked to organized criminal networks may be involved.
The case comes amid growing concern among Canadian law enforcement agencies over gang-driven extortion operations involving young Indian nationals, particularly international students. A recent alert issued by Canada’s financial intelligence agency, FINTRAC, warned that vulnerable youth on study permits are allegedly being recruited by criminal syndicates to carry out violent acts and intimidation campaigns.
The advisory specifically highlighted the role of the Bishnoi and Bambiha gangs in fueling such activities. Canadian authorities formally designated the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity in 2025. Officials further cautioned that smaller criminal outfits and imitators are now exploiting the notoriety of these gangs to spread fear and intensify extortion attempts within diaspora communities.
