Serious concerns have been expressed about the rise in Khalistani-affiliated extremism targeting Indian-origin celebrities abroad after a violent attack on Kap's Cafe, a recently opened café in Surrey, British Columbia, owned by comedian Kapil Sharma and his wife Ginni Chatrath.
Although Canadian officials believe the Laddi gang, which is connected to the outlawed Khalistani terrorist organization Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), may have been involved, local observers speculate that the strike might have been started by a personal provocation.
The cafe, which is well-known for its artisan desserts and pink-and-white décor, had only had a soft opening when it was shot at late on Sunday night. Daniel Bordman, a Canadian political pundit who visited the scene following the shooting, claimed that a whole magazine was fired into the cafe while employees were still inside. Although there were no reported injuries, the property sustained substantial damage.
The Laddi gang, which has close ties to the outlawed Khalistani terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), is suspected of carrying out the strike, according to Canadian law enforcement officials.
According to Indian intelligence sources, the group is directed by Harjit Singh, also known as Laddi, a BKI agent residing in Germany who is regarded as a high-value extremist. He is accused of being the mastermind of a number of high-profile attacks on Hindu leaders and pro-India voices, and he is wanted in India for a number of terror-related offenses.
Laddi and associate Kulbeer Singh, also known as Sidhu, are charged with organizing and providing weapons to the assailants who killed Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Prabhakar in Nangal, Rupnagar district, Punjab, on April 13, 2024. The two are also being investigated for recruiting shooters for targeted killings and funding cross-border terrorist activities.
A reward of Rs 10 lakh has been offered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for any information that results in Laddi's arrest.