By Canadian Press

Temple leader who supported separate Sikh state is shot dead in Surrey, B.C.

Jun 19, 2023 | 9:31 AM

SURREY, B.C. — The general secretary of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Society in Surrey, British Columbia, confirms the president of the gurdwara was fatally shot in an attack just outside the temple.

Bhupinder Singh Hothi says in a telephone interview that Hardeep Singh Nijjar had just left the gurdwara and was in his vehicle in the parking lot when he was attacked on Sunday night.

Surrey RCMP said in a news release that the shooting happened at about 8:30 p.m. and the victim died at the scene.

They say they are searching for suspects and trying to confirm a motive for the homicide.

Hothi says Nijjar had received threats because of his support for a separate Sikh state of Khalistan, in India, but the shooting will not deter those who share his beliefs.

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The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has called a news conference for this afternoon in Surrey to provide further information about the case.

A video posted on Twitter about 90 minutes after the shooting showed a large crowd gathered outside the gurdwara, the scene illuminated by the flashing lights of police cars.

Some in the crowd chanted “long live Khalistan,” “we want a separate Khalistan,” and “death to India,” as RCMP officers looked on.

A video circulating on social media shows a person slumped over in the driver’s seat of a grey pickup truck, the windows shattered. Another video of the same scene from a different angle shows the vehicle surrounded by police cars.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 19, 2023.

The Canadian Press