A Sikh advocacy organization is urging police to investigate the fatal shooting of a 22-year-old former Brampton resident in Alberta as a possible hate-motivated crime.
Birinder Singh, who had recently moved from Brampton to Alberta, was shot and killed while driving on Highway 2 near Leduc on March 14. The incident occurred around 2:50 p.m. while Singh was in a black Honda Civic. Police have since recovered a grey Ford F-150 believed to be linked to the case, but no arrests have been made and no suspect descriptions have been released.
The World Sikh Organization has called on authorities to examine whether the killing was motivated by anti-Sikh hate. Regional president Jaskaran Sandhu described the attack as unprovoked, noting there was no apparent reason for the shooting and raising concerns about a broader rise in anti-Sikh incidents across Canada.
According to the organization, recent reports have shown a sharp increase in anti-South Asian and anti-Sikh hate, including online abuse and reported crimes. WSO president Danish Singh said the circumstances surrounding the killing are deeply troubling and called for a thorough investigation into whether Singh was targeted because of his identity.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Alberta say the case is currently being treated as a homicide, and there is no confirmed evidence at this stage that the victim was specifically targeted. Investigators emphasized that under Canadian law, hate motivation is not a separate charge but can be considered by a judge during sentencing if proven.
Police are continuing to gather evidence and are asking anyone who witnessed the shooting or has dashcam footage from the area near Township Road 490 to come forward.
The incident has shaken Sikh communities across Canada, highlighting growing concerns about safety and rising hate-related incidents, while authorities focus on identifying those responsible and determining the motive behind the attack.