On December 27th, an unidentified assailant discharged gunshots at the home of the son of a temple president in Canada. The Surrey Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are currently conducting a thorough investigation into the incident. The targeted residence is owned by the eldest son of Satish Kumar, who serves as the president of the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey.
A shooting incident targeted the residence of a well-known Hindu businessman in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, on December 27th as confirmed by the Surrey Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The house, belonging to the eldest son of Satish Kumar, who serves as the president of the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey, was subjected to gunfire at approximately 8:03 am. Despite at least 14 rounds being fired and causing damage to the property, there were no reported injuries, according to Kumar.
The police are currently investigating the assault and have not yet identified any suspects. According to Kumar, the motive behind the attack, whether it was orchestrated by Khalistanis or some extortionist, remains uncertain. The Surrey RCMP General Investigation Unit has taken charge of the inquiry to establish the motive for the attack. This incident highlights a concerning trend of vandalism and assaults on Hindu temples in Canada, especially in areas with a significant presence of Khalistani groups.
The recent attack marks the third occasion when the Lakshmi Narayan temple in Surrey or its members have been targeted by Khalistan supporters. In a previous incident in August, the prominent Hindu temple in British Columbia, Canada, was subjected to vandalism, including anti-India graffiti, sparking widespread outrage within the Indian community. During that time, the mayor of Brampton strongly condemned the act of spreading hate-filled messages toward India by defacing the temple walls.
Recent events, such as the vandalism at the Lakshmi Narayan temple in Surrey and the appearance of anti-India graffiti at temples in Brampton and the Greater Toronto area, have given rise to concerns regarding possible hate crimes.
Despite reassurances from the Canadian government and appeals for heightened temple security, the Hindu community remains anxious. India has repeatedly raised concerns about temple defacement with Canada on multiple occasions.
