A Canadian social media commentator who built a following by criticising social and religious fanatics in Punjabi dispora and speaking out strongly against the Khalistan separatist movement has been fatally stabbed in Ontario, as police investigate what they say was a targeted attack.
LaSalle Police say emergency services were called to a home on Todd Lane shortly before 9.30 pm on 3 March, where Nancy Grewal, 45, of Windsor, was found with serious injuries and taken to the hospital, where she later died. Police have urged anyone with information, including nearby residents with CCTV or doorbell footage, to contact Detective Sergeant Jamie Nestor, with anonymous tips also accepted through Crime Stoppers.
While police initially described the killing as an “isolated incident” in a public update intended to calm community fears, LaSalle Police Chief Michael Pearce later said investigators believed it was “not a random act of violence” and was being treated as an “intentional act” against Grewal. Pearce said officers were aware of speculation circulating online about possible motives but would not release details that could compromise the investigation.
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) Canada issued a statement condemning the killing, describing Grewal as a “courageous Sikh woman” and calling on Canadian authorities to respond at a high level. The organisation said it was “profoundly outraged” by the death and offered condolences to her family, while urging investigators to treat the case with urgency.
CoHNA also argued the killing should not be viewed in isolation, claiming it reflected a wider pattern of intimidation against people who publicly challenge extremist narratives.
In its statement, the group said journalists, community leaders and public figures had faced harassment and threats, warning that unresolved attacks risk emboldening those seeking to silence dissent and undermine social cohesion in Canada.
Grewal was known online for blunt commentary on Indian Punjabi dispora affairs and for challenging pro-Khalistan figures — a stance that has drawn hostility in parts of the diaspora where the separatist cause remains active. Canadian outlet CityNews reported Grewal’s sister, Alishaa Grewal, believed the death was “pre-planned” and linked it to her sister naming people in videos who she believed were “doing wrong”.
From India, Grewal’s mother, Chhinder Pal (also reported as Shinderpal Kaur), said her daughter had been receiving threats and had raised concerns with police, alleging the family believed people were staying silent out of fear.
CityNews also reported that Grewal worked as a personal support worker, and her death has prompted renewed scrutiny of safety risks for frontline home-care staff. Union SEIU Healthcare said the killing had exposed safety gaps for workers who often operate alone, with its president, Tyler Downey, arguing they should be able to do their job and return home safely.
Although police have not alleged a political motive, Grewal’s death has reignited debate about intimidation directed at critics of hardliners linked to the Khalistan cause. The sepratist movements overseas disputes have at times escalated into threats and violence against community figures who oppose separatism.
In New Zealand, a High Court case in Auckland highlighted how political and religious divisions within diaspora communities can spill into attempted violence. Radio Virsa host Harnek Singh was stabbed more than 40 times in a 2020 driveway ambush after the Crown argued the attack was driven by anger at his views, with Justice Mark Woolford telling the organiser he bore the “lion’s share of responsibility” and describing the offending as showing hallmarks of religious fanaticism.
New Zealand has also seen assaults on Punjabi-language media workers while reporting on community disputes. In 2018, NZ Punjabi News reporter Jaspreet Singh Rajpura said he was “just doing his job” when he was allegedly punched and left with a broken tooth after men demanded he stop recording at a protest in Auckland.
For diaspora communities in countries such as Canada, New Zealand and Australia, these cases have sharpened calls for authorities to distinguish peaceful political advocacy from coercion and violence — and to ensure critics can speak freely without fear of retaliation.
LaSalle Police have asked anyone with information about Grewal’s death to contact investigators as the homicide inquiry continues.
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