Canada probes India link to series of extortions in Alberta, Delhi says ‘will assist, but…’
India-Canada Row: India’s High Commissioner to Ottawa Sanjay Kumar Verma has said that Delhi could assist in investigating the links to gangs operating in Canada, and conducting extortion targeting Indo-Canadians. However, the envoy set a ride – “if there is a formal request from Ottawa along with evidence".
According to a report by Reuters, police in Canada are investigating a series of extortions and related crimes that they believe are orchestrated by a suspect in India and involve criminals in Edmonton, Alberta, targeting the region's affluent South Asian people. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Canada is yet to approach India over the extortion crimes.
“Canadians are yet to request, with evidence", Hindustan Times quoted Sanjay Kumar Verma. Verma also informed that there were “existing mechanisms between the two governments to cooperate on organized crimes." “If specific and relevant evidence — not merely unsubstantiated allegations — are shared with us, pointing to links between Canadian extortionists and Indian gangsters, we shall act accordingly." HT quoted Verma.
According to media reports, Edmonton Police has said they so far have reports of 27 incidents between October and January, including extortions, arson, and drive-by shootings, and asked others who may have been targeted to come forward. Edmonton Police described as a new trend in Canada, victims typically receive a WhatsApp message along with a request for compensation for the victims' safety, reports Reuters.
The Canadian police has said that no injuries from these crimes were reported, however, one firefighter was injured in one of the arsons, at least $6.7 million in property damage had been recorded. Canadian Police have said that he have arrested
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