NEW DELHI, Nov 11: An Indian-origin Sikh man, described as a “higher-level figure” in the organised crime scene in Canada, and his 11-year-old son were killed in what police have called a “sick and twisted” escalation of gang violence in the city of Edmonton.
Harpreet Singh Uppal, 41, and his son were gunned down outside a gas station on Thursday afternoon in a brazen, daytime shooting, Edmonton Police Service acting Supt. Colin Derksen told the media on Saturday. The boy’s young friend, who was in Uppal’s car at the time, survived with no physical injuries.
Colin Derksen said police do not know whether the shooter or shooters knew children were in the car when they began following Uppal. “But what we do know, sadly, is that once the shooter or the shooters learned that the son was there, they intentionally shot and killed him,” the Edmonton Journal quoted Derksen as saying.
He added killing children was once a “line in the sand” gang members refused to cross, but that was changing. “That is sick and twisted,” Mr Derksen said. “I think most gang members would agree.” Police have not released the name of the boy, pending autopsy.
Colin Derksen said a suspect vehicle – a stolen 2012 BMW X6 – was located on fire north of Beaumont. No one was located inside the vehicle and no injuries were reported as a result of the fire. So far police had made no arrests and identified no suspects.
Mr Derksen said Uppal was a “higher-level figure” in Edmonton’s organised crime scene but declined to say if he was affiliated with any specific groups, the report said. Uppal was facing charges related to cocaine possession and trafficking, as well as illegal possession of body armour. A trial was set to start in April 2024, media report said. He was also charged with assault with a weapon and unauthorised possession of a firearm in relation to a case from March 2021. The Crown stayed those proceedings in February, it said.
Derksen also declined to say whether police believe the shooting was retaliation for other violence, or whether retaliation for Uppal’s killing was expected. His murder is believed to be part of a war between the UN gang and the BK.
While originating in the Vancouver area, the tit-for-tat slayings are now happening across the country. The day before Uppal was killed, B.C. UN gangster Parmvir Chahil was shot dead in Toronto. Media reports said the killings may be linked.
Mr Derksen said it was too early to say “if there’s a connection” to violence in other cities, “or if there is, how far-reaching it is.” He confirmed Uppal and his family were the targets of a 2021 shooting in which a gunman fired through the window of a restaurant where they were having dinner. The lone man charged in the case – Harsh Jindal, who police claimed was the getaway driver – had his charges dropped last month, court records show.
(Manas Dasgupta)