Highlights:
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Indian immigration consultants in Canada report growing extortion threats and violent attacks
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Brampton-based consultant Vikram Sharma’s home was fired upon on January 3
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Sharma later received a WhatsApp extortion demand for CA$500,000
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Similar incidents reported in Ontario and British Columbia
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Authorities are investigating extortion-linked violence targeting South Asian professionals
Indian immigration consultants working across Canada, particularly in the Greater Toronto Area and Vancouver, are facing a growing pattern of extortion threats and violent attacks. These incidents have heightened fear among professionals who serve the Indo-Canadian community and have raised broader concerns about safety, trust, and enforcement within the Indian immigration sector in Canada.
On January 3, a serious incident unfolded in Brampton, a city within the Greater Toronto Area, involving immigration consultant Vikram Sharma. According to witnesses, an unknown masked gunman fired multiple shots at Sharma’s home shortly after 1:30 a.m. Eight to nine bullets struck the property, damaging his vehicle and garage. No injuries were reported, but the attack left Sharma’s family deeply shaken.
Indian immigration extortion case in Brampton
Shortly after the shooting, Sharma received a WhatsApp message demanding CA$500,000. The message included a video showing the gunfire attack on his home. The anonymous sender warned that further harm would come to Sharma’s family if the money was not paid. The combination of the shooting and the direct extortion threat marked a significant escalation in what many Indian immigration consultants describe as a worsening environment of intimidation.
In an off-camera interview conducted in Punjabi, Sharma spoke about the impact of the incident on his family. “We didn’t come to Canada for this. We came for the peace, for the system,” he said. He added that the attack had fundamentally changed how safe his family felt in the country. Following the incident and the continued threats, Sharma and his family are believed to have left Canada last week, just over three years after they arrived.
Indian immigration professionals report wider pattern
Sharma’s experience is not an isolated case. Brampton-based journalist Nitin Chopra has reported that several other Indian immigration consultants in the region have faced similar extortion attempts. While not all cases involved gunfire or physical violence, many included repeated threats, coercive calls, and demands for money.
Reports of similar incidents have also emerged from Mississauga in Ontario and Surrey in British Columbia. These accounts suggest that Indian immigration consultants across multiple provinces are being targeted, pointing to a broader and more organized pattern of extortion affecting professionals linked to immigration services.
Indian immigration and community safety concerns
The issue extends beyond individual consultants and has affected the wider Indo-Canadian community. Indian immigration services often serve as a first point of contact for new arrivals, international students, and temporary workers. Threats against consultants have therefore created anxiety not only among professionals but also among clients who rely on them for guidance on visas, permits, and settlement processes.
Authorities are responding to what they describe as a wider wave of extortion-related violence targeting South Asian businesses and professionals across Canada, including in British Columbia. Law enforcement agencies, including the Canada Border Services Agency and regional police forces, are investigating these incidents. In several extortion-related probes, authorities have removed suspects from the country, though investigations remain ongoing.
Indian immigration under pressure amid crime concerns
Community leaders say the situation reflects a complex challenge involving organized crime, immigration pressures, and fear within one of Canada’s largest immigrant communities. The rise in extortion attempts has added strain to the Indian immigration sector, which already operates under intense scrutiny due to regulatory changes and increased demand for immigration services.
Professionals working in Indian immigration have urged authorities to strengthen protection measures, improve intelligence sharing, and ensure quicker responses to threats. Many say that visible enforcement and clear communication are necessary to restore confidence among consultants and their clients.
Indian immigration agents weigh future in Canada
For families like the Sharmas, the incidents have forced difficult decisions. What began as a pursuit of stability and opportunity has turned into a reassessment of personal safety and long-term plans. As investigations continue, Indian immigration consultants across Canada are watching closely, hoping for stronger action that can prevent further violence.
As this situation develops, the Indian immigration community remains on edge, balancing their role in supporting newcomers with growing concerns about security. Whether Canada can continue to offer the sense of peace and protection that drew many immigrants in the first place is now a question being openly asked within the community.
