A newly opened café in Surrey, British Columbia, owned by popular Indian comedian Kapil Sharma, came under gunfire on Wednesday night, triggering concern among local residents and the Indian diaspora.
Multiple bullets were fired at Kap’s Café—which had only opened last week—shattering windows and leaving visible bullet holes on the façade. Nearby residential buildings were also hit, though no injuries were reported.
According to reports, the shooting occurred while staff were inside the café located on 120th Street in the Newton neighbourhood. A forensic investigation is underway, with CCTV footage being reviewed and spent bullet casings recovered. The area was cordoned off, but no arrests have been made so far.
The shooting has been claimed by Harjit Singh Laddi, an alleged terrorist affiliated with the banned Khalistani group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), and one of India’s most wanted individuals, according to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Laddi reportedly said the attack was in retaliation for remarks allegedly made by Sharma, though the comedian has not yet released a public statement.
Authorities are probing whether the shooting was a personal threat against Sharma or part of a broader trend of intimidation and extortion linked to pro-Khalistan operatives in Canada.
The incident follows a wave of violence and extortion attempts targeting South Asian business owners in Surrey.
Earlier this month, the RCMP charged two individuals with gun and arson offences after a joint investigation into extortion cases dating back to 2023. Victims reported receiving demands for large sums of money and facing violence when they refused.
Surrey Police are urging anyone with information about the Kap’s Café shooting to contact their non-emergency line and reference file number 25-57153 (SP).
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