Chandigarh: In a major move against extortion threats in Canada, Surrey City Council has declared a local state of emergency. It is the first elected council in Canada to take such action against any crime. Punjabi gangsters are said to be the most involved in extortion of South Asians.
According to Canadian media reports, Mayor Brenda Loke led the resolution, which was approved on January 26. It emphasizes the horrific nature of these crimes, which have outgrown local resources and traditional policing efforts. The council is now urging the federal government to follow suit by declaring a national emergency or taking extraordinary steps equivalent to it, which Loke has described as an international threat.
“This is a crisis that has left families terrified and businesses under siege. "The City of Surrey acknowledges that we are in a state of emergency due to the extortion and related violence that has plagued our city."