AI Generated Summary
- , two students from Haryana – Aman and Digvijay (both 21) – were charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Harjeet Dhadda, a Brampton businessman shot in a Mississauga parking lot.
- The latest case to stir controversy is the arrest of 29-year-old Kanwarjyot Singh Manoria, a Brampton resident, who was taken into custody this week for allegedly issuing death threats to Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and his family.
- The incident also prompted a chilling threat from Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a controversial Khalistani activist and founder of Sikhs for Justice, who told Sharma to “take his blood money to Hindustan.
The Indian diaspora in Canada, long celebrated for its contributions to culture, business, and public life, is facing an unsettling crisis of perception. A spate of high-profile criminal incidents involving Indo-Canadians, especially those linked to fringe Khalistan extremist groups, has dominated headlines in recent months, sparking debates about public safety and tarnishing the community’s reputation.
The latest case to stir controversy is the arrest of 29-year-old Kanwarjyot Singh Manoria, a Brampton resident, who was taken into custody this week for allegedly issuing death threats to Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and his family. Peel Police have yet to disclose a motive, but the arrest came shortly after Brown publicly urged Ottawa to declare the Lawrence Bishnoi gang a terrorist organisation. Brown, joined by councillors Gurpartap Singh Toor and Navjit Kaur Brar, had formally petitioned Prime Minister Mark Carney and Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree to take action against the gang, which has been linked to violence in Peel region.
“These were death threats, saying that I was making them very angry,” Brown said in a statement, emphasizing that his stance on public safety had likely provoked the threats.
High-Profile Shootings and Gang Links
Just days before Manoria’s arrest, the Indo-Canadian community was shaken by an attack on Kap’s Café, a newly opened restaurant owned by Bollywood comedian Kapil Sharma in Surrey, British Columbia. Gunfire riddled the café on July 10, with no injuries reported. Harjit Singh Laddi, a Khalistani operative affiliated with the banned Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), claimed responsibility. Laddi is on India’s list of most wanted terrorists.
The incident also prompted a chilling threat from Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a controversial Khalistani activist and founder of Sikhs for Justice, who told Sharma to “take his blood money to Hindustan.”
Organised Crime and Extortion Rings
On June 16, Peel Police dismantled a Brampton-based organised criminal network operating within the towing industry. Eighteen suspects, mostly Indo-Canadians, were arrested, and assets worth $4.2 million were seized. According to police, the group staged vehicle collisions, extorted money from insurance companies, and used threats, assaults, and firearms to dominate local towing operations.
Similarly, three Indo-Canadians – Harpal Singh (34), Rajnoor Singh (20), and Eknoor Singh (22) – were arrested in May after allegedly firing shots inside an empty Brampton business to demand extortion payments. Peel Police’s Extortion Investigative Task Force has been probing more than 60 extortion cases since December 2023, with several involving gunfire.
Robberies and Violence Targeting Minorities
Adding to the concerns, three teenagers of Indian origin – including 18-year-old Hardil Singh Mehrok – were arrested for luring South Asian and 2SLGBTQ victims through social media and robbing them at gunpoint. The violent robberies occurred between April and May this year.
Murder and Drug Busts
The Indo-Canadian community has also been rocked by violent murders and drug-related crimes. In Delta, B.C., two students from Haryana – Aman and Digvijay (both 21) – were charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Harjeet Dhadda, a Brampton businessman shot in a Mississauga parking lot.
In what police have called Canada’s largest illegal drug lab bust, Gaganpreet Singh Randhawa was arrested last November for running a fentanyl operation that produced enough lethal doses to “kill every Canadian at least twice,” according to RCMP Assistant Commissioner David Teboul. The raid yielded 54 kilograms of fentanyl, 390 kilograms of methamphetamine, 35 kilograms of cocaine, and other narcotics.
A Community at a Crossroads
With more than 1.8 million people of Indian origin in Canada, the community has historically been viewed as a pillar of entrepreneurship and cultural diversity. However, these escalating criminal incidents have fuelled anti-immigrant rhetoric online and increased scrutiny on Indo-Canadians.
Community leaders and law enforcement officials stress that the actions of a criminal minority should not overshadow the positive contributions of millions of law-abiding citizens. Yet, as public safety concerns mount, the Indo-Canadian community faces a critical moment: to reclaim its reputation and reaffirm its commitment to being a force for good in Canada.
