Expressing deep concern over the concerning rise in extortion threats against Indian and South Asian business communities, mayors in Brampton and Surrey, Canadian towns, are urging the government to swiftly address this issue. Mayor Patrick Brown of Brampton and Mayor Brenda Locke of Surrey emphasized the urgency of the situation in a letter to Canada’s Public Safety Minister, Dominic LeBlanc.
The mayors highlighted the alarming escalation of extortion attempts and violent acts, including shootings, targeting predominantly members of the South Asian business community. Peel police, including the newly established Extortion Investigative Task Force, are actively investigating 16 incidents related to extortion, acknowledging the severity of the situation.
Per reports from CP24 news channel, suspects possess personal details of victims and use social media to make extortion demands under threats of violence. The mayors called for a comprehensive strategy involving federal, provincial, and local authorities to tackle the complexity and inter-jurisdictional nature of these crimes. They urged the federal government to take a leading role in facilitating collaboration, leveraging the resources and intelligence capabilities of the RCMP and local law enforcement agencies.
The mayors stressed the need for a unified approach to address the fear instilled in their communities. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown emphasized the importance of the Justin Trudeau government sending a clear message that such incidents will not be tolerated.
In a related development, police in Edmonton, Alberta, are investigating 18 extortion incidents linked to arson and drive-by shootings. The incidents are believed to be connected to a gang based in India, led by Lawrence Bishnoi, targeting affluent members of the South Asian community. A leaked "Law Enforcement Only" bulletin revealed that Hindi-speaking suspects use WhatsApp to threaten violence after demanding large sums of currency.
The mayors and authorities are calling for urgent government intervention to address the widespread fear and violence, emphasizing the need for a collaborative and robust strategy to counter these extortion threats. The communities affected are on edge, and the situation requires immediate attention and decisive action.
(With Agency Inputs)
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