Buta Singh Gill, Gurudwara Head-Builder, Among 2 Shot Dead in Canada: Reports

New Delhi: Amid a surge in crime against Indians in the US, an Indian-origin man was shot dead at a construction site in Edmonton city in Canada. The deceased has been identified as Buta Singh Gill. According to sources, Gill was a prominent member of a Sikh shrine in the city and had "strong ties to the Punjabi community". The incident has left the Sikh community in shock.

According to media reports, Gill owned Gill Built Homes Ltd, an Edmonton-based luxury home building company. Gill is survived by a wife, daughter and a son.
 

In a separate incident, one more person died in the daytime shooting which took place in the Canadian city's Cavanagh area on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Edmonton Police have advised people to avoid the area of Cavanagh Blvd SW and 30 Avenue SW amid the shootings. It added  "there were no immediate concerns for public safety".

“Police are asking citizens to avoid the area of Cavanagh Blvd SW and 30 Avenue SW while police investigate a shooting that occurred in the residential area around noon. There are no immediate concerns for public safety at this time and responding officers have secured the scene. EPS homicide investigators will be leading this investigation. No further details are available(Sic).”

Indian Gangsters Behind Killing?

According to media reports, the role of Indian gangsters is being suspected in the killing. 

Reports suggested that Indian gangsters have teamed up with pro-Khalistan elements in the country and are carrying out extortion from rich Indian-origin Canadians. This comes nearly 10 months after the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, president of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Canada's Surrey who was designated as a terrorist by India.

The Edmonton police had previously said that a web of criminals in India was active in extorting Indian-origin people, mostly builders considered "affluent".