Kapil Sharma’s newly opened cafe, Kap’s Cafe, in Surrey, Canada, was targeted by a Khalistani terrorist late at night on July 10. While no one was injured, the restaurant sustained damage.
A prominent member of the banned Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), Harjit Singh Laddi, has claimed responsibility, stating the attack was prompted by remarks allegedly made on Kapil Sharma’s show that offended Nihang Sikhs.
According to Surrey Police, multiple shots were fired at the cafe at approximately 1:50 am on Wednesday night, hitting windows and damaging property while staff were inside.
Harjit Singh Laddi, identified as a BKI-linked terrorist and listed on India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) most-wanted list, took responsibility.
In a social media post, Laddi claimed he and another BKI associate, Toofan Singh, carried out the attack.
Laddi linked the attack to a segment on The Kapil Sharma Show, where a character donned traditional Nihang Sikh attire accompanied by a humorous commentary.
He stated, "A character was seen wearing the Nihang Sikh attire and some humorous remarks were made on their conduct. These were considered to be offensive and hurt the religious sentiments of the community. No religion or spiritual identity can be mocked under the guise of comedy."
He further mentioned that the members of their community made several calls to Kapil Sharma's manager but did not receive any response from them.
"Why didn't Kapil Sharma publicly apologize anytime soon?" he asked.
In the aftermath, Kap’s Café, which is run by Kapil Sharma's wife Ginni Chathrath, posted on their Instagram page: “We opened Kap’s Cafe with hopes of bringing warmth, community, and joy through delicious coffee and friendly conversation. To have violence intersect with that dream is heartbreaking. We are processing this shock but we are not giving up.”
“Your kind words, prayers, and memories shared via DM mean more than you know. This cafe exists because of your belief in what we’re building together. Let’s stand firm against violence and ensure Kap’s Cafe remains a place of warmth and community… thank you and see you soon under better skies," read the statement.
Harjit Singh Laddi is a known terrorist associated with BKI, a banned Khalistani group in Canada.
He is wanted by India’s NIA in connection with the 2024 assassination of a VHP leader in Punjab, and a Rs 10 lakh bounty has been placed on him.
His group has previously been linked to other acts of violence, including an alleged cell in Ludhiana responsible for petrol bombings.
Ongoing Investigation and Broader Implications
Canadian authorities are investigating the shooting to determine whether it was a terror attack, a threat, or tied to extortion demands. The incident is the latest in a disturbing trend of extremist violence targeting individuals of Indian origin abroad.
The firing came at a time when there are already rising tensions within the Indian diaspora in Canada and recent diplomatic friction over allegations linking India to the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey in 2023.
Kapil Sharma has yet to comment publicly on the shooting.
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