Web Desk
TORONTO: Five Indo-Canadian Punjabi men and women have been arrested for unleashing a wave of extortions in the South Asian community of the Greater Toronto Area that also includes the Punjabi-dominated city of Brampton and Mississauga.
Police announced on Wednesday that three men and two women have been arrested for their involvement in various incidents of extortion since December 2023..
Four of the accused were arrested by the Extortion Investigative Task Force (EITF) of Peel Police from Brampton city which is home to the largest concentration of Punjabis in Canada.
Those arrested include Gagan Ajit Singh, 23, from Bramptom, Iymanjot Kaur, 21, from Brampton, Hashmeet Kaur, 25, from Brampton and Anmoldeep Singh, 23, from Mississauga.
The fifth accused Arundeep Thind, a 39-year-old man of no fixed address, was arrested after he made a phone call and threatening WhatsApp messages to a 32-year-old victim demanding large sums of money.
All five have been charged with various extortion-related crimes, including fraud over $5000, threats to life, use of firearms and possession of illegal weapons.
While Gagan Ajit Singh, Anmoldeep Singh and Arundeep Thind were held for bail hearings, Iymanjot Kaur and Hashmeet Kaur will attend the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton at a later date.
The police task force was formed after dozens of cases of extortions targeting the South Asian community in Brampton and Mississauga were reported.
“We have an entire business community that is fearful,” said Peel Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah at Wednesday’s news conference.
He said his task force investigated 29 cases of extortion.
The police chief said, “We understand the impact these incidents have caused the victims and their families, and see how deeply these incidents are being felt throughout our community. We took immediate steps in mobilizing the Extortion Investigative Task Force. With the help of our community, we have made arrests and will continue to hold accountable those responsible.”
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