Surrey (Rajeev Sharma): A fatal shooting in the middle of the day has left Surrey residents shaken after a Punjabi businessman was killed near his property on Tuesday afternoon.
Police confirmed that the incident occurred just after noon, at approximately 12:05 pm local time, outside a farm located near 176 Street and 35 Avenue. The victim, identified as 48-year-old Binder Garcha, was reportedly attacked near the gate of his land and was pronounced dead at the scene.
First responders arrived within minutes of receiving emergency calls, but the victim had already suffered fatal injuries. The area was quickly cordoned off as investigators began collecting evidence and speaking with potential witnesses.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has now taken charge of the case. Later in the day, officers discovered a vehicle that had been burned in South Surrey, which is believed to have been used by the assailants to flee following the shooting. Police have not confirmed how many suspects may be involved.
No arrests have been announced, and authorities have not disclosed a motive for the killing. Investigators say they are examining all possible angles and reviewing surveillance footage from nearby properties and roadways.
The shooting has renewed anxiety within Surrey’s Punjabi community, where business owners have increasingly voiced fears about targeted violence. Community members and local observers point to a rise in extortion attempts and organised criminal activity affecting long-established entrepreneurs in the region.
While police have not linked Garcha’s death to any broader criminal pattern, the incident has intensified calls for greater security measures and stronger enforcement to curb violent crime in the Lower Mainland.
