Ottawa:

Gunshots were heard at the home of a man of Indian origin in Surrey, Canada. The incident has since been investigated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The shooting occurred in the early hours of Wednesday (December 27) at the residence of the son of Satish Kumar, president of Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, in Surrey. Police said no one was injured during the incident.

According to Officer Parmir Kelon, Surrey Police Media Relations Officer, the residence sustained significant damage that appeared to be bullet holes.

“On December 27, 2023, at approximately 8:03 a.m., Surrey RCMP received a call regarding shots fired at a residence in the 14900 block of 80th Avenue. No one was injured during the incident, but the residence suffered significant damage and bullet holes. Police remained at the scene to examine the scene, speak to witnesses and scan the surrounding area for CCTV footage. The Surrey RCMP General Investigation Unit is investigating. Officers are still working to determine the motive behind this incident. For more information, including video of the incident, please contact Surrey RCMP,” a Surrey Police news release states.

Surrey RCMP's General Investigation Branch is investigating and officers are working to establish a motive for the incident, he said, adding the identity of the perpetrators is still unknown.

Surrey Police have not confirmed any links between the attack and recent threats received at the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey.

In early November, Indo-Canadian MP Chandra Arya shared a purported video of Pro Khalistani supporters in Surrey claiming to want to create trouble at the Hindu Lakshmi Narayan Mandir there.

He wrote: “According to some reports, Khalistan supporters verbally abused a Sikh family outside a Sikh gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, last week. It now appears that this same Khalistan group wants to cause trouble at the Hindu Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey.”

Pointing out that Hindu temples have continued to be attacked in recent years, Arya noted: “Hindu temples have been attacked a lot in recent years. “Hate crimes are being committed against Hindu Canadians. »

Moreover, in August this year, in Canada, extremist elements vandalized a Hindu temple with posters of the Khalistan referendum. In April this year, the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple was defaced with anti-Indian graffiti in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

Meanwhile, in February, the Ram Mandir in Mississauga, Canada, was defaced with anti-Indian graffiti. In January, a Hindu temple in Brampton was covered in anti-Indian graffiti, sparking outrage among the Indian community.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and has been published from the syndicated channel.)