The footage spread fast. Calgary police confirmed they're investigating a shooting in the Savanna community after CityNews reached out about the video circulating online. No one was hurt. A reporter who showed up found bullet holes in a home matching what was in the clip. Ward 5 Councillor Raj Dhaliwal called it alarming and said his office is in close contact with police.
The video is disturbing. What's behind it is worse.
21 Cases. 11 Shootings. One Community Being Hunted.
Since early 2025, Calgary police and ALERT (Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams) have been tracking 21 extortion cases 11 of which escalated into shootings all targeting members of Calgary's South Asian community. The pattern is methodical. Victims receive calls and WhatsApp messages from organized crime operatives demanding large sums of money. Refuse, and shots get fired into your home or business. Still won't pay, and your family back in India gets dragged into it.
Police have connected the threats to organized crime networks operating across multiple provinces. Investigators have noted offenders are invoking the name of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang designated a terrorist entity in Canada to make clear the threats aren't empty.
The playbook doesn't change: demand, shoot, repeat.
Families Are Quietly Packing Up and Leaving
Earlier this month, roughly 70 residents showed up to a town hall at the Dashmesh Cultural Centre in Martindale to hear from Calgary police and RCMP. What they heard painted a picture of a community living under quiet, sustained fear.
Dalsher Virk, an Airdrie resident who attended, said people aren't just worried they're moving. Families are leaving their homes and staying at other addresses just to feel safe. Routines are being changed. Routes to work and worship are being switched up. Business owners are installing buzzers, cameras, and better lighting on police advice.
Most victims still haven't called police. Calgary police deputy chief Asif Rashid said fear of reprisal, concerns around immigration status, and community stigma around involving authorities are keeping people silent. That silence is precisely what the extortionists are counting on.
"We believe strongly that the community has a lot of information," Rashid said, "but often there is a hesitation or reticence to report because of fear of reprisal."
What's Actually Being Done
Calgary police have pushed additional resources into Ward 5, which has a large South Asian population. ALERT is running undercover operations, wiretaps, gun tracing, and digital forensics. The province has assigned dedicated prosecutors to extortion cases and is building a cyber task force. Investigators are coordinating with RCMP and police agencies in B.C. and Ontario because this problem doesn't stop at city limits.
Alberta Justice Minister Mickey Amery attended the town hall and committed to taking these cases seriously at the prosecution level. Calgary police are also working with community organizations, faith groups, and settlement agencies to reach victims who won't go directly to authorities.
It hasn't been confirmed whether Monday's Savanna shooting is directly tied to the ongoing extortion series. Police were expected to address that question in an update Monday afternoon.
Anyone with information can contact Calgary police at 403-266-1234 or reach Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 or online at p3tips.com.
This story draws on a Calgary Police Service media release, CBC News, Global News, and CityNews reporting. The investigation is ongoing. No charges have been laid in connection with the February 23 shooting.
