A young man, aged 26, has been handed a six-year prison term for shooting at the residence of popular Punjabi music sensation AP Dhillon on Vancouver Island last year.
The incident took place in Colwood, just west of Victoria, where the singer’s home was targeted with a barrage of bullets in the early hours of September 2, 2024. Additionally, two vehicles were set ablaze outside the property.
Dhillon reassured his fans on social media following the evacuation of the residence and the extinguishing of the flames, expressing gratitude for the concern shown towards him and his loved ones.
After almost two months, Abjeet Kingra from Winnipeg was arrested in Ontario. Subsequently, Kingra was found guilty in a British Columbia court for charges related to arson, property damage, and recklessly discharging a firearm with disregard for the safety of others.
During the sentencing, the judge acknowledged Kingra’s ties to the Lawrence Bishnoi criminal network in India, highlighting that he carried out the criminal acts in Canada at their behest.
In a significant development, the Canadian federal government designated the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organization shortly after Kingra’s sentencing. British Columbia Premier David Eby welcomed this decision, emphasizing its potential to assist law enforcement in seizing the gang’s assets due to their involvement in extortion and crime within the South Asian community in the province.
Kingra was handed concurrent sentences of two and six years, with an additional 4.5 years to serve after factoring in time already spent in custody. He was also slapped with a lifetime ban on possessing firearms.
Authorities are on the lookout for a second suspect linked to the same crimes. The West Shore RCMP is collaborating with partner agencies to track down a 24-year-old individual formerly residing in Winnipeg, who is currently believed to be in India.