Canadian authorities have seized several firearms from a home in Surrey, British Columbia, after a video surfaced showing people with weapons at a local event. The homeowner, identified by social media as Harjit Singh Pattar, is linked to pro-Khalistan activities and is an associate of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent pro-Khalistan activist who was killed in June 2023.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Surrey launched an investigation after a video appeared online, allegedly showing a group of people dancing with firearms at a residence in Surrey. While the video’s exact context is still under scrutiny, sources indicate it may have been taken during a pre-wedding event for Pattar’s son. Pattar is reportedly associated with the separatist group Sikhs for Justice.
On Thursday, the RCMP’s South Community Response Unit (SCRU) confirmed the address connected to the video and initiated a criminal investigation. By late afternoon, officers had seized several firearms from Pattar’s property.
“The investigation is ongoing as we work to identify everyone in the video,” said Superintendent Harm Dosange of the Surrey RCMP. “Ensuring public safety is our top priority, and our officers acted swiftly to secure the firearms.”
This incident has raised concerns in the community, reflecting ongoing issues related to pro-Khalistan groups in the region. Reports from earlier this year indicated that pro-Khalistan elements in the Lower Mainland may have stockpiled weapons.
A Globe and Mail investigation in June revealed that, in 2015, Nijjar and his associates underwent weapons and GPS training and conducted target practice at several locations in the Lower Mainland.
