Three Punjabi Youths Sentenced for Extortion-Linked Shooting in Canada

A Canadian court has sentenced three Punjabi youths in connection with an extortion-related shooting incident that occurred at a residence in Surrey, British Columbia. The convicted individuals are Taranveer Singh, Harjot Singh, and Dayajeet Singh Billing. They were found guilty on June 9 in Surrey Provincial Court after pleading guilty to various charges linked to the shooting that took place in the early hours of February 1, 2026.

The Surrey Police Service reported that shootings were fired at a home in the Crescent Beach area, near Crescent Road and 132 Street, leading to a small fire outside the property. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the incident.

Upon their arrest shortly after the shooting, the three youths were described as foreign nationals by the police. The arrest was conducted by officers from the Surrey Police Service’s Project Assurance, an anti-extortion unit, and the Major Crime Section. Understandably, the case has sparked concerns regarding human rights, especially given the release of the suspects’ photographs without turbans, which some have interpreted as a violation of their religious rights.

Taranveer Singh, who was 19 years old at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty to reckless discharge of a firearm. He has been sentenced to five years in prison, although after accounting for time already served, he will spend an additional 4.5 years in custody. Both Harjot Singh and Dayajeet Singh Billing, aged 21, pleaded guilty to charges related to throwing an explosive substance and each received sentences of just over two years.

Following credits for time served, Billing will serve a further 20 months, while Harjot Singh will serve 18 months in addition to two years of probation. The Surrey Police Service indicated that the cases are among the first linked to extortion in British Columbia.

Staff Sergeant Lindsey Houghton of the Surrey Police Service noted that this could mark a significant step in addressing extortion-related violence in the community. He expressed hope that there would be more sentences forthcoming as this case progresses.

After serving their sentences, the men may face deportation proceedings, as the Canada Border Services Agency has been engaged in the case, indicating that it is their legal duty to remove foreign nationals deemed inadmissible under Canadian immigration laws. This incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding gang-related activities and extortion threats in the Surrey area, which police are actively working to address.