By Link News Desk
SURREY: Surrey RCMP has arrested and charged two 16-year-old males related to a shooting that targeted the house of Simranjeet Singh, a close aide of slain Khalistan advocate Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The police have ruled out any link to foreign interference which was speculated during the time of shooting. Pro-Khalistan groups, including Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) had alleged that India was responsible for the firing. Although police did not reveal the identity of the victim whose house was targeted, BC Gurdwara Council president Moninder Singh, spokesperson, BC Gurdwaras Council, had informed media after the shooting, that the victim of the targeted shooting was Simranjeet Singh. Moninder had claimed that Simranjeet’s close association with Nijjar and his active involvement with the Khalistan issue might be the reason he was targeted and speculated India’s involvement behind the shooting. “Simranjeet has actively volunteered during Khalistan Referendums. Since he has no criminal record or related to any criminal activity, we are very sure in our minds that this shooting is not related to any gang war or extortion but it is political,” he said in a press conference.
The Surrey RCMP has now made it clear that investigators have not established any links to foreign interference in this case. "The real motive of the shooting will be presented in the court. But the reason we mentioned that there was no foreign interference was because, at the time of this incident, there was a lot of speculation circulating that this was connected to foreign interference. We want to let the community know that investigators have not established any links to foreign interference in relation to this matter," said Sarbjit K. Sangha, Surrey RCMP.
The police on February 1 were informed that shots were fired at a residence in the 2800-block of 154 Street at approximately 1:21 AM. The police said no injuries were reported and did not reveal any details regarding the shooting or the identity of the
victim. Moninder while giving details of the shooting said at 1:20 AM Simranjeet’s home was shot with 20 bullets. “Two shooters went to the scene and hid for a few minutes. One of the shooters shot his car and front of his house, and the other shooter shot the front of the door. The firing happened 10 minutes after he came to his home and entered his living room. They nearly missed him and missed his young son who was
sleeping on the second floor.”
On February 6, 2024, the Surrey RCMP Serious Crime Unit executed a search warrant on a residence in the 7700-block of 140 Street. Police seized three firearms and multiple electronic devices during the search.
On Februay 12, 2024, the two males were arrested and the BC Prosecution Services approved charges of Discharging a Firearm into a place and Possessing a Loaded Prohibited Firearm. “The youths are currently being held in custody awaiting their next
court appearance,” Sangha said. Hardeep Nijjar, president of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara was shot to death in the parking lot of the temple last year. Canadian Prime Minister Justine Trudeau said that Canada has some credible information that India was behind the killing.
India, however, rejected the charges by Canada, deeming them as “absurd and motivated.”
