Canada: Sikh man, son shot dead in gang violence in Edmonton

A man of Indian origin, identified as a prominent figure in organised crime in Canada, along with his 11-year-old son, was fatally shot in what authorities describe as a disturbing escalation of gang violence in Edmonton. Harpreet Singh Uppal, 41, and his son were gunned down in broad daylight outside a gas station on Thursday, according to the Edmonton Police Service acting Supt. Colin Derksen. The boy’s young friend, who was in Uppal’s vehicle at the time, escaped with no physical injuries. Derksen indicated that it remains unclear whether the attackers were aware of the presence of children in the car when they began following Uppal. Additionally, once they discovered the child’s presence, they intentionally shot and killed him, Derksen stated, emphasising that such actions represent a distressing departure from a previously observed line that gang members avoided crossing. The Edmonton Journal reported Derksen’s observation that killing children was once considered off-limits among gang members, but this norm is evidently changing. No arrests or suspect identifications had been made by Friday morning, and police were appealing to the public for any information, including security or dash camera footage from the vicinity. Uppal was facing charges related to cocaine possession and trafficking, as well as illegal possession of body armour. His trial was scheduled for April 2024. According to media reports, Uppal was associated with the Brothers Keepers. The broader context of gang-related violence was highlighted, with recent killings potentially linked to a conflict between the UN gang and the Brothers Keepers, which originally emerged in the Vancouver area but has now extended across the country. Authorities are investigating whether there are connections to violence in other cities. With inputs from PTI