B.C. launches dedicated Crime Stoppers line to report extortion, violence against South Asian businesses

CBC News

· Posted: Jun 26, 2025 5:56 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours ago

A caller dedicated, anonymous extremity enactment has been established successful B.C. for residents to study accusation astir extortion attempts and unit against the South Asian community.

On Thursday, B.C. Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Garry Begg said a caller Crime Stoppers run aims to rise consciousness and promote reporting from the public. 

Begg said threats against South Asian businesses person accrued successful caller months and years. Surrey Police Service (SPS) Chief Norm Lipinski said since the opening of the year, 12 new investigations into extortion and unit against the South Asian assemblage person been launched successful that city. 

"Understandably, this causes large interest among residents," Begg said. 

When asked wherefore the South Asian assemblage is being targeted successful particular, Begg did not person an answer. 

"Why this peculiar community, I don't cognize the reply to that."

The state announced $100,000 for the campaign, opening instantly and lasting 60 days. 

Ultimately, Begg said, helium hopes an anonymous extremity enactment volition promote radical to travel guardant with accusation that volition assistance halt those responsible. 

Last week, Premier David Eby said helium would beryllium asking Prime Minister Mark Carney to declare a group based successful India called the Bishnoi gang a violent enactment successful Canada. He said the pack has been linked to immoderate threats successful B.C.

That came aft a nationalist information forum held connected June 15, which brought unneurotic concern owners, constabulary and elected officials to sermon the ongoing emergence successful threats and unit against the South Asian assemblage successful Surrey and respective different parts of Canada.

Lipinski said Thursday that the SPS Extortion Investigations Team is moving connected these cases afloat time, with the assistance of different policing agencies.

The Crime Stoppers line, for those looking to record a report, tin beryllium reached at 1-800-222-8477 oregon connected the B.C. Crime Stoppers website.