Surrey’s South Asian community is feeling the impact of extortion-related shootings targeting businesses and residences, and the fear extends beyond its victims.
Local realtor Birinder Sidhu, who has worked in Surrey for more than a decade, tells OMNI News that the psychological toll of the threats is beginning to influence buyer and seller behaviour.
While there is no official data directly connecting extortion to dropping property values, he says hesitation is clearly growing in both residential and commercial markets.
According to Sidhu, commercial property owners, especially small and medium-sized business operators, have been among the main targets of extortion calls, which has pushed some businesses to delay investments, pause expansion plans, or relocate altogether.
“Many contractors have stopped running advertisements out of fear they will receive extortion calls,” Sidhu said.
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“The impact has been so severe that several construction sites have shut down. The market was already slow, and now activity has come to a near standstill.”
Sidhu says that extortion is not the only factor affecting real estate, but it has become impossible to ignore.
Even though authorities report a recent decrease in violent incidents, fear continues to shape decision‑making.
“We’re hearing that when individuals receive extortion calls and can’t pay, they are pressured to provide phone numbers of other prominent people in the community,” Sidhu explained.
“Out of fear, some end up sharing those contacts. We are receiving reports of such cases.”
The effects are also spreading into Surrey’s wedding, banquet, and hospitality sectors — industries closely tied to South Asian cultural celebrations.
Venues that were once fully booked are now seeing noticeable drops in reservations.
Jatinder Jay Minhas, owner of Reflection Banquet Hall, tells OMNI News that the downturn is driven by both financial uncertainty and fear.
“Businesses now feel compelled to increase visible security as a deterrent. This affects customer confidence and puts an unnecessary financial burden on small and mid‑sized businesses.”
He says that what should be a busy celebration season has instead become a period of worry.
“High-profile murders, including Mr. Sharma and Mr. Sahsi, happened in broad daylight with no leads,” he said.
“Solving such cases requires more police resources and more officers on the ground.”
According to police data, as of February 17, Surrey has recorded:
Community members say Surrey’s long-term economic fundamentals remain strong, but restoring confidence will depend on improving safety.