KELOWNA – The LINK reported last week that Amardeep Singh Ahluwalia was founded beaten and murdered in a kitchen full of blood in a neighbourhood in the scenic city of Kelowna.
Ahluwalia, who lived in Surrey about 5 years ago before moving to Kelowna with his girlfriend, was the brother-in-law of BC Liberal minister Amrik Virk, who is a former RCMP inspector.
Ahluwalia, 47, who was founded beaten and murdered in a kitchen full of blood, was laid to rest with a funeral on Tuesday in Surrey.
Virk, the controversial Minister of Technology, Innovation & Citizen Services, released this statement Tuesday, expressing family’s grief.
“I am saddened by the tragic death of my brother-in-law, Amardeep Singh Ahluwalia. My wife has lost a brother, and my daughters have lost an uncle. We are grateful for the support and kindness of those who have shared their condolences, and I thank you in advance for respecting our privacy in our time of grief,” Virk said.
While the RCMP has not identified the dead man found in the Black Mountain area last Wednesday morning, he was identified the media through property records, which showed the home was purchased in 2009 by Amardeep Singh Ahluwalia, who was born in 1968.
RCMP Const. Steve Holmes told Vernon-based Info-news that police “responded” to a home on Feedham Avenue sometime after midnight where they found the man dead. Police aren’t releasing his name until family have been notified.
According to Elsie, an area resident who declined to give her last name, the house belongs to a man who moved to Kelowna from Surrey about five years ago and lived with his girlfriend on Feedham Road, reported info-news.
Elsie heard it was a home invasion.
“The lady who was tied up went to (my neighbours) door to untie her and call the police,” she says. “I heard she is in the hospital.”
Elsie also says the man and his girlfriend were planning on moving to a larger place.
“He was just packing up and he was going to rent this (house) out.”
Const. Holmes says this appears to be a targeted attack and that neighbours are safe. Elsie believes the man was on disability and was unemployed.
The unidentified girlfriend was reportedly able to escape to a neighbour’s, where she showed up terrified and tied in zap straps.
Although unconfirmed by police, multiple sources at the scene say Ahluwalia was beaten to death in the home invasion. Police are using the term “targeted homicide,” but have not released further details.
Neighbours say the girlfriend was taken to hospital.
Neighbour Elsie told the Castanet newspaper she was awoken at 3 a.m. by sirens and barking dogs. She explained how the girlfriend had escaped to their home for help.
Friends of Ahluwalia were in shock. They say he was “a really great guy” who loved old trucks and vehicles and spent most of his time working outside on his cars.
His friends were also concerned that Ahluwalia’s pet dog was missing from the scene.
A court search shows Ahluwalia has just one past traffic violation.
“Kelowna RCMP are currently investigating the death as a homicide,” says Const. Steve Holmes.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact Kelowna RCMP. A tip line has been set up at 250-470-6236 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-5477.
