Surrey RCMP is investigating a shooting that has left one man dead. The man has been identified as Ripudaman Singh Malik, who was acquitted in the 1985 Air India bombing.
On Thursday morning at 9:26 a.m., Surrey RCMP responded to a report of shots fired in the 8200-block of 128 Street.
Reports of shots fired on Ripudaman Singh Malik near 128 and 82 in Surrey. He's no more. A source said attacker's face was covered and had guns in both hands.
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A burnt car found couple of blocks away in Surrey. pic.twitter.com/RDsXHighuC
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Police attended and located him suffering from gunshot wounds.
He was provided first aid by attending officers until Emergency Health Services took over his care.
Injured Malik succumbed to his injuries on scene.
This appears to be a targeted shooting.
A suspect vehicle was located in the 12200 block of 82 Avenue fully engulfed in fire.
The investigation is in the early stages and police are still looking for the suspects and a second vehicle that may have been used as getaway vehicle.
Malik and his co-accused, Ajaib Singh Bagri, were found not guilty in March 2005 of murder and conspiracy in a pair of Air India bombings that killed 331 people on June 23, 1985.
B.C. Supreme Court heard during the trial that a suitcase bomb was loaded onto a plane at Vancouver's airport and then transferred in Toronto to Air India Flight 182.
The aircraft crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Ireland, killing 329 passengers and crew.
About an hour later, a bomb destined for another Air India plane exploded prematurely at Tokyo's Narita Airport, where two baggage handlers died.
Inderjit Singh Reyat, the only man convicted in the bombings, testified for the Crown at Malik and Bagri's trial and was later convicted of perjury.
Malik's son Jaspreet Singh Malik shared a Facebook post on the demise of his father highlighting that he was wrongfully charged in the Air India case.
“We are aware of Mr. Malik’s background, though at this time we are still working to determine the motive. We can confirm that the shooting appears to be targeted and there is not believed to be any further risk to the public,” says Sergeant Timothy Pierotti of IHIT. “Having occurred in a residential area, we are confident that witnesses exist that could help us further this investigation. We urge them to come forward immediately and without delay.”
Malik was 75 and is the head of Khalsa schools across Canada.
IHIT is asking that any witnesses or anyone traveling in the area of 122 Street and 82 Avenue between 9:15 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. with dash cameras or who has any information regarding the homicide of Mr. Malik is asked to contact the IHIT Information Line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
Photo courtesy of Instagram (JournalistGagandeepSingh)
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