A 22-year-old Indian student from Punjab was killed in a brazen daylight shooting on an Alberta highway in Canada on March 14, reigniting concerns over the safety of Indian nationals abroad.
Birinder Singh, a Amritdhari Sikh who had moved to Canada three years ago to build a better future, was driving with friends on Highway 2 south of Edmonton when a pickup truck pulled alongside his car and someone inside opened fire. Singh, who was behind the wheel of a grey Honda Civic, managed to pull over but succumbed to his injuries.
‘We did nothing. They just shot him’
Singh’s childhood friends, who were in the car with him, have given harrowing accounts of the moments leading up to the killing. They told Global News that someone in the truck flashed what looked like a peace sign. Singh, unsuspecting, waved back. Seconds later, a gunshot rang out.
“We just heard a gunshot and within a minute, everything happened, everything has changed,” they said. “Our whole world is really bad now.”
One friend told CTV News Edmonton, “We did not overtake them. We did not block their way. We were not honking at them. We did nothing. I do not know what they think … I think we can say, racist.”
A dream cut short
Singh had left India three years ago to study business administration in Brampton, Ontario. In 2025, he relocated to Edmonton, secured a work permit, and began working in construction — a path familiar to thousands of young Indians who migrate to Canada seeking opportunity and stability.
His body was flown home to his family in Punjab on Monday, made possible through a GoFundMe campaign launched by his brother, Punarmeet Singh. For a family that had sent their son abroad with hopes of a brighter future, a coffin returned instead.
Accused arrested, but motive still unclear
Canadian police have charged 18-year-old Jimmy Gassner, a resident of Lloydminster, with second-degree murder. He was arrested near Canoe Lake and is being transported to Alberta, where he will remain in custody until his court appearance at the Leduc Court of Justice.
Witnesses told the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) that Gassner’s truck had been driving aggressively before the shooting. Yet investigators say there is no evidence that the two vehicles had any prior interaction on the highway — deepening suspicion that the attack may have been motivated by something other than road rage.
RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Troy Savinkoff acknowledged that the hate crime angle has not been ruled out. “The motive remains unclear. We’re hoping to provide that to the public soon,” he told CBC News.
Growing fears over anti-Sikh hate in Canada
The killing has sent shockwaves through Canada’s Sikh community and has drawn sharp responses from advocacy groups. The World Sikh Organisation of Canada (WSO) called on investigators to examine whether Singh was targeted because of his Sikh identity.
“Given the current rise in anti-Sikh hate we are seeing, it is critical that investigators and the RCMP examine whether Birinder Singh was targeted because of his Sikh identity,” WSO President Danish Singh said. “When communities are repeatedly targeted and demonised, it increases the likelihood of acts of violence such as this.”
The tragedy comes against the backdrop of a deeply strained India-Canada relationship and a documented rise in hostility towards Indian nationals and Sikhs in the country. For many Indian families, the incident reinforces a growing unease about sending their children to a country once considered a safe destination for education and work.
Why is the Canadian police considering ‘hate crime’ probe?
Indian Consulate responds
The Indian Consulate in Vancouver issued a statement expressing deep sorrow. “We are deeply saddened by the tragic killing of Indian student Birinder Singh in Alberta on 14 March 2026. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time. The Consulate stands firmly with the bereaved family and is extending all possible assistance.”
As the investigation continues, Singh’s family and the wider Indian community await answers — not just about who pulled the trigger, but about whether Canada can guarantee the safety of the hundreds of thousands of Indian students and workers who call it home.