A total of at least nine shots were allegedly fired at the newly opened restaurant of comedian Kapil Sharma in Surrey, Canada.
The shootout has been claimed by Khalistani terrorist Harjeet Singh Laddi, where no one got hurt, according to an NDTV report.
Kapil Sharma’s Foray Into the Food Business
The cafe, named Kap's Cafe, is Kapil Sharma's foray into the restaurant business. Kapil Sharma's wife Ginni Chatrath is also a part of the business.
The cafe is situated in Surrey in Canada's British Columbia.
Alleged videos of the attack, dated July 9, circulating on social media depicted a man discharging at least nine shots with a pistol from within a moving vehicle.
Harjit Singh Laddi from Punjab's Nawanshahr is a Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) agent and in NIA's most wanted terrorist list.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had filed a charge sheet against Laddi last year, along with Pakistan-based Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) chief Wadhawa Singh and four others in relation to the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Vikas Prabhakar alias Vikas Bagga in Punjab this year.
The incident has triggered alarm among Indian communities in Canada and abroad, especially given the growing concern over the Khalistani network's influence outside India. Kapil Sharma, one of India’s most popular comedians and TV personalities, has yet to release an official statement regarding the incident. However, security concerns are being evaluated around the café premises.
Canadian law enforcement agencies have launched a full-scale investigation into the shooting, and local police are coordinating with federal agencies to verify the Khalistani angle and track down the suspects. The attack raises broader questions about the safety of Indian-owned establishments in Canada, especially in light of recent diplomatic tensions between India and Canada over extremism and separatist propaganda.
The location of the café Surrey, British Columbia is known to have a significant South Asian population and has witnessed Khalistan-linked activities in the past, according to Indian intelligence sources.
As the probe continues, Indian authorities are also keeping a close eye on the situation, given the involvement of individuals already under scrutiny by the NIA.
