THE RCMP and Abbotsford Police Department said on Thursday that they believe that a series of extortion threats impacting businesses across the Lower Mainland may be linked and are working in partnership to advance and coordinate an investigation into these matters.
Police said they acknowledge that the threats circulating to businesses including a recent incident that involved shots being fired at a home in White Rock are deeply concerning.
They say that as this investigation is active and ongoing, they are unable to provide further details at this time.
“We encourage anyone who is threatened to please call your local police department.
If you are targeted in an extortion attempt, do not engage with the suspect and do not send any money, instead contact local police immediately,” police said.
Last month, The VOICE had carried warnings from Surrey RCMP and Abbotsford Police about extortion threats.
There have been rumours and reports in media in India and in the South Asian media in Canada for years about notorious gangs connected to Punjab with criminal operations across India as well as Canada, the US and other countries. But somehow the RCMP and other Canadian police forces seem to have been absolutely ignorant or abysmally ineffective in dealing with these developments.
THE VOICE reported last week in a report titled “Shots fired outside Punjabi singer-actor Gippy Grewal’s West Vancouver home; Lawrence Bishnoi group claims responsibility”: “The Lawrence Bishnoi gangster group in India last weekend claimed responsibility for shots fired outside Punjabi singer-actor Gippy Grewal’s residence in West Vancouver in the early hours of Sunday, November 24.
“West Vancouver Police spokesperson Sgt. Mark McLean told The VOICE that officers responded to a call of shots fired outside a residence on November 24 at about 12:15 a.m. He said police believe that it was a targeted incident and added that there were no safety concerns for the community at large.
“McLean said he could not say who had been targeted and what the motive was at this stage except that it was “a very active investigation.”
“India media reported last weekend that a Facebook account named Lawrence Bishnoi announced the gangster group’s involvement in the incident.”
Indian media have been claiming that the shooting is for extorting money from the famous Punjabi star.
THE targeting of RK Jewellers on November 23 in Surrey’s Payal Business Centre is believed to be a case of extortion. Surrey RCMP said that shots were fired at 2:07 a.m. “The business was closed at the time of the incident and no injuries were reported,” police added.
