A Pakistani-Canadian businessman named Rahat Rao was rushed to the hospital in critical condition after being set on fire in Surrey, British Columbia. Local media reported that Rao, who had lived in Surrey for over 30 years, was attacked by an unidentified individual near his currency exchange business.
According to CBC News, Rao’s brother-in-law, Munir Riasat, confirmed his identity and stated that Rao remains in critical condition with severe burns following the August 2 attack.
Surrey police reported that the attacker used a fire accelerant to ignite Rao before fleeing the scene in a stolen car, which has since been recovered.
Rahat Rao had been actively involved in protests related to the death of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2022. Nijjar’s death deeply impacted Canada’s Sikh community and led to a diplomatic dispute between Canada and India. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had cited evidence of Indian government involvement in Nijjar’s death, which resulted in a significant diplomatic row.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police subsequently charged three Indian men with murder in connection with Nijjar’s death and are investigating potential links to the Indian government.
Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, had been campaigning for Khalistan, an independent Sikh homeland separate from India. His death has further strained relations between Canada and India, with New Delhi labeling him a “terrorist” in 2020.
As Canada examines foreign interference in its elections, there are calls for a separate inquiry into Indian interference in Canadian affairs.
