Comedian Kapil Sharma's cafe in Surrey, Canada, has been in the news again for the second time this month, with gunshots ringing near the Kaps Cafe premises. The latest incident of gunfire has raised fears of gang violence and extremist involvement, with at least 25 rounds reportedly fired.
In a video going viral on social media, a burst of gunshots can be heard, followed by a voice that says:".We had rang up the target, but he had not heard the ring, so we had to act. If he also does not hear the ring, the next action will be taken shortly in Mumbai."
Two gangs which are rivals — one headed by Gurpreet Singh alias Goldy Dhillon and the other linked to gangster Lawrence Bishnoi — have both taken responsibility for the recent attack through posts online.
Indian officials, including the Mumbai Police, are in the process of investigating the issue, in collaboration with international counterparts, to evaluate the authenticity and extent of the threat.
This is the second shooting at Kaps Cafe in a month. The first happened on July 10, when the new opened joint was shot at while workers were still inside. While nobody was injured, the aftermath showed approximately 10 bullet holes on a window and broken glass on a pane.
Following the increased violence, Kaps Cafe released a statement promising resilience:
"We will remain steadfast against any act of violence. Our space will still remain a place of warmth and community."
Local Canadian officials meanwhile have confirmed reports coming from Indian media that a Khalistani extremist had been linked to the first July 10 attack.
Soon after that attack, Harjit Singh Laddi, who is a well-known associate of the outlawed terror group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), took responsibility. He blamed the firing as an act of revenge for "humorous" remarks about Nihang Sikhs' traditional dressing and conduct on one of Kapil Sharma's comedy shows, which he claimed had hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community.
BKI, which is designated as an official terror group by Canada, is being kept under close watch. Harjit Singh Laddi, also one of the most-wanted terrorists in the National Investigation Agency's list, is a point of interest in both nations.
As tensions raise and public security becomes an issue, both Indian and Canadian agencies are under pressure to move fast while they attempt to untangle the cross-border links that have led to the attacks.
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