SFJ activist's car torched, bus with "Khalistan Referendum" material spray painted outside Surrey residence

Surrey Police Service (SPS) is investigating an arson attack after a vehicle was deliberately set on fire and a parked bus was vandalized outside the residence of prominent Sikh independence activist Narinder Singh Randhawa.

The incident occurred late Wednesday night on October 28, at approximately 11:45 p.m., emergency crews responded to a report of a vehicle fire outside a home in the 14500 block of 91 Avenue in the Surrey Central area. Upon arrival, SPS officers found a passenger vehicle fully engulfed in flames, which was subsequently extinguished by the Surrey Fire Service.

Additionally, a bus parked on the property—bearing materials related to the Khalistan referendum—was defaced with spray paint.

The investigators believe the suspect fled the scene on foot following the arson and mischief.

Randhawa said that he was sleeping in his room when the incident took place. "My wife was in the living room and was the first to go out after hearing a loud blast. We saw that our car was set on fire, while spray paint had been used on the bus. So, we informed the police, and they are investigating the matter. The blast was so strong that the side door windshields and sunroof flew into the air and got stuck in the trees," he said.

"We have checked the CCTV footage of our house. There was one suspect who was moving around the house during that time, who later tried to break the window of the car before setting it on fire," he added.

The attack follows a series of heightened security concerns for Randhawa, an active organizer for Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) who has been heavily involved in local demonstrations, including a protest held outside the Indian Consulate in Vancouver just hours before the incident.

SPS previously issued Randhawa formal "Duty to Warn" notices in April and August of this year. These notices are issued by law enforcement when intelligence indicates an imminent and credible threat to an individual's life.

Major Crime detectives with the Surrey Police Service are leading the active investigation to determine the motive behind the attack.

Police are appealing to the public for assistance, urging anyone who was in the vicinity of 145 Street and 91 Avenue between 11:00 p.m. and midnight on October 28, or who possesses relevant CCTV or dashcam footage, to immediately contact SPS.