Extortion threats against Indo-Canadian-South Asian business people including realtors continue as police recently announced the arrest of two men but no charges were laid and the men were released. Since late 2023, police across the Lower Mainland have been investigating a series of targeted financial extortions primarily affecting members of the South Asian business community. Businessman and Surrey Hindu Temple head Satish Kumar has been targeted with threats and a number of shootings at his businesses but he refused to hand over $2 million sought by criminals. Instead he put up $100,000 reward to catch the culprits, which seem to belong to India based Lawrence Bishnoi gangster. Recently labour contractor Satwinder Sharma was gunned down over extortion non-payment but later unknown criminals claimed that Sharma was not killed over extortion but rather than exploiting female workers. This week, a female Indo-Canadian realtor was threatened and her house allegedly shot up by criminal extortionists. Before last Thursday’s arrests, police in Brampton and Edmonton had made arrests while attacks in Surrey appeared to be ramping up again. There were two shootings linked to extortion in June, including one at Nijjar Trucking and another at the Maple Ridge home of a Punjabi music producer.

By PD Raj – Senior Reporter DESIBUZZCanada

SURREY – Extortion threats against Indo-Canadian-South Asian business people including realtors continue as police recently announced the arrest of two men but no charges were laid and the men were released.

The RCMP said recently that they can publicly confirm the existence of an ongoing investigation into extortions, which is being managed by a Joint Force Operation (JFO). 

The investigation, that began in 2024, has led to the arrest of two individuals, they said.

On July 3, two suspects under investigation for extortion were arrested for careless discharge of a firearm and arson in relation to incidents that occurred in 2024, in Surrey, BC.

Since late 2023, police across the Lower Mainland have been investigating a series of targeted financial extortions primarily affecting members of the South Asian business community. 

Businessman and Surrey Hindu Temple head Satish Kumar has been targeted with threats and number of shootings at his businesses but he refused to hand over $2 million sought by criminals. Instead he put up $100,000 reward to catch the culprits, which seem to belong to India based Lawrence Bishnoi gangster.

Recently labour contractor Satwinder Sharma was gunned down over extortion non-payment but later unknown criminals claimed that Sharma was not killed over extortion but rather than exploiting female workers.

This week, a female Indo-Canadian realtor was threatened and her house allegedly shot up by criminal extortionists.

Before last Thursday’s arrests, police in Brampton and Edmonton had made arrests while attacks in Surrey appeared to be ramping up again. There were two shootings linked to extortion in June, including one at Nijjar Trucking and another at the Maple Ridge home of a Punjabi music producer.

Other victims have reported receiving threats demanding large sums of money, sometimes followed by acts of violence or property damage when demands were not met.

In January 2025, a JFO led by the RCMP Lower Mainland District was stood up to combine expertise from various police agencies to ensure a focused and coordinated continuation to investigations that began in late 2023 and early 2024. 

The JFO is a small project team comprised of experienced investigators from the RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit, Abbotsford Police Department, RCMP Federal Policing – Pacific Region and the BC RCMP Major Crime Section in addition to a civilian criminal analyst from the Surrey Police Service.

Since the start of the JFO, the team has worked diligently to advance linked extortion investigations, consistent with their strategic focus and mandate. Any investigations not within the JFO mandate, have continued to be advanced and investigated by the police of jurisdiction.

The JFO, with support from the RCMP National Coordination and Support Team, is working closely with police agencies across the region, country and internationally, to secure new evidence and assist with the gathering and sharing of intelligence. 

Police said this unified approach is critical to effectively identifying those responsible, protecting victims, and addressing the broader public safety risk.

These arrests are reflective of a shared commitment amongst law enforcement to coordinate efforts, leverage regional resources, and gather the necessary evidence to pursue criminal charges, says Chief Superintendent Duncan Pound, Lower Mainland District Assistant District Commander and Operations Officer. These investigations take time and for strategic investigative reasons, details of the coordinated policing efforts have not been shared publicly. We want the public to know that police agencies across the Lower Mainland are prioritizing these investigations and are committed to working together and with communities to hold those responsible, accountable.

Police are urging potential victims if you are the victim of an extortion attempt, do not comply with demands, save all correspondence and contact your local police immediately to make a report.

Last month, B.C. Premier David Eby asked the federal government to classify the India-based Bishnoi gang as a terrorist group. Public Safety Minister Garry Begg said he has been told by police that the gang is linked to the extortion efforts, though critics say there is no direct evidence the globally active gang is behind the B.C. extortions.