Surrey: RCMP warns Sikh activists of credible death threats

Surrey's Sikh diaspora is at the centre of a week of intensifying security alerts, community solidarity, and cultural defiance. RCMP have issued rare 'duty to warn' letters to Sikh activists in British Columbia and Ontario, advising them of credible, imminent threats to their lives linked to Khalistan advocacy. Alongside those warnings, local gurdwaras are mobilizing wildfire disaster relief and Surrey audiences are rallying around a film that India has banned.

RCMP issues life-threat warnings to Sikh activists in B.C. and Ontario

RCMP have issued 'duty to warn' letters to at least two Canadian Sikh activists, telling them their lives face credible, serious, and imminent threats connected to their involvement in advocating for an independent Sikh state in India. The notices were delivered to Inderjeet Singh Gosal of Caledon, Ontario, and Manjinder Singh of Abbotsford, British Columbia. Police informed both men that the threats are directed at them personally, with no indication that family members or friends are at risk. The documents, obtained by The Canadian Press, mark a significant escalation in formal warnings issued to members of Canada's South Asian diaspora engaged in Khalistan-related political activity. These disclosures follow the 2023 killing of Surrey Sikh temple president Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an assassination that Canada has attributed to agents linked to the Indian government — an allegation New Delhi has denied. The RCMP duty-to-warn letters reflect a broader pattern of alleged transnational repression targeting Sikh community leaders and advocates across British Columbia and Ontario, prompting urgent calls from community organizations for federal government action to protect diaspora members from foreign interference. [2]

Surrey Sikh gurdwara mobilizes community donations for B.C. wildfire victims

A Surrey Sikh gurdwara is spearheading a community-wide donation drive to support victims of ongoing British Columbia wildfires that have displaced thousands of residents this summer. The initiative draws on the Sikh principle of seva — selfless service — placing the gurdwara at the center of disaster relief coordination for people of all backgrounds. Organizers have called on community members to donate supplies, food, and financial contributions, and have emphasized that relief assistance is available to anyone in need regardless of religious affiliation. Volunteers at the gurdwara have been sorting donated goods and liaising with evacuation centers and relief organizations across the fire-affected regions of the province. The effort mirrors previous gurdwara-led responses to natural disasters in British Columbia, where Surrey's South Asian diaspora has consistently been among the most active contributors of practical community aid. With wildfire season intensifying across the province, the gurdwara's campaign has broadened its reach through social media appeals and coordination with other faith and community organizations, highlighting the longstanding role of the Sikh community as a cornerstone of local humanitarian response in the Surrey region. [3]

Banned film on Sikh martyr draws community screenings in Surrey

A film based on the life of Sikh human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra has been banned in India and pulled from an Indian streaming platform just two days after its release — but the movie is finding strong audiences at community screenings across Canada, including events organized in Surrey, British Columbia. Titled Satluj, the film stars Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh as Khalra, who exposed and documented extrajudicial killings carried out by Indian security forces in Punjab during the 1980s and 1990s before he himself was abducted and killed while in custody. The banning of the film has amplified its resonance within the Canadian Sikh diaspora, many of whom regard Khalra as a martyr whose story demands international attention. Surrey organizers have coordinated screenings for community members wishing to engage with this chapter of Sikh and Punjabi history. The film's removal from the Indian streaming service shortly after launch drew widespread comment on questions of censorship and historical accountability. For Surrey's Sikh community, attending these screenings has taken on significance as both an act of cultural preservation and a form of solidarity with those who continue to seek justice for victims of state violence in Punjab. [7]

Cricket Canada president's Surrey home targeted in second extortion shooting

Surrey police are investigating a second extortion-related shooting at the home of Cricket Canada president Arvinder Khosa, located in the city's South Newton neighbourhood. Officers responded to reports of gunfire near 57 Avenue and 148 Street shortly after 4 a.m. on Thursday, June 4, 2026. The residence was occupied at the time of the shooting, but no injuries were reported. This follows an earlier targeted shooting at the same address on May 20, 2026, which was also believed to be extortion-related. The Surrey Police Service confirmed that prior threats against the home were a factor in treating the incident as an extortion matter, and the department's dedicated extortion response team has taken control of the investigation. Khosa has not made public comment on the ongoing threats against his property. The repeated targeting of the home of a prominent figure in Canada's South Asian cricket administration has heightened anxiety within Surrey's Punjabi community about organized criminal networks using extortion and intimidation against community leaders. Residents and businesses in South Newton have been asked to review CCTV and dashcam footage and contact police with any information that could assist the investigation. [4]

Sources: [2] CP24 · [3] Surrey Now-Leader · [7] CBC · [4] CBC