**Title: Community Leaders Call for Action Against Extortion in B.C.** Arrests in extortion cases affecting the South Asian community in British Columbia have been welcomed, but community leaders stress that more action is needed to combat ongoing violence. Jinny Sims, a former NDP MLA and current radio host in Surrey, expressed concern over recent shootings, noting that they occurred even as charges were announced against seven suspects involved in three extortion-related incidents dating back to 2024. "When you think about that, it is crazy," Sims said. She highlighted that her radio station, Swift Radio, was targeted in a shooting on September 29. "Yes, I am really happy that the police have made some arrests. I think they need to catch more." Kash Heed, a former B.C. solicitor general and current Richmond city councillor, echoed Sims' sentiments. He acknowledged the police's progress but urged them to focus on higher-level criminals. "They’re getting the people at the lower end of the spectrum. They’re getting the people that are hired most likely to do what they’re doing, to go out and create the fear by shooting up houses, shooting up businesses, torching cars, making those threats," Heed said. "They now need to strategically investigate, work this up to the people that are behind the extortions." On Monday, charges were announced against seven men, including five linked to two confirmed extortion cases in Surrey and two related to an arson incident. Mandeep Gidda, 23, Nirmaandeep Cheema, 20, and Arundeep Singh, 26, were charged with reckless discharge of a firearm following an incident on March 27 outside a residence in Surrey. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton of the Surrey Police Service indicated that investigators would explore potential connections between these individuals and other extortion cases. This year, Surrey has seen 56 extortion incidents, including 31 shootings. The provincial extortion task force also announced charges related to an August 2024 shooting and arson at the home of an extortion victim. Abjeet Kingra, 26, and Vikram Sharma, 24, face charges of discharge of a firearm with intent and arson. Kingra has a prior conviction for a shooting and arson incident in September 2024. Sharma is believed to be in hiding in India. Both men are linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi criminal organization, which has been designated a terrorist entity in Canada. Additionally, Harmanjot Brar, 25, and Hardilpreet Singh, 23, were charged with arson and possession of stolen property related to a Sunday morning incident in Surrey. Their immigration status remains unclear. Police sources have indicated that while some extortion cases may be connected to organized crime in Canada and India, others appear to involve lower-level criminals attempting to exploit the fear generated over the past two years. Heed revealed that some business owners have paid their extorters, including one individual who transferred $3 million to Indian bank accounts in a case linked to organized crime. Sims noted that the initial payments made by victims may have encouraged less experienced criminals to adopt similar tactics. "For some of them, this appears on the surface to be a quick way to make some money, especially when people were paying at the beginning," she said. Sims also advocated for the deportation of non-residents found guilty of using weapons to threaten the business community. "If they are non-residents and they are found guilty and they are found to be using weapons to threaten our business community, I have no difficulty saying then they should be deported," she stated. Heed suggested that various B.C. agencies and task forces should be consolidated into a single unit. A national task force addressing extortion was announced last year, and a provincial task force was established on September 16. Both the Surrey and Abbotsford police departments have dedicated units investigating extortion cases. "What they need to do is have a unified task force that’s going to be on the ground level and be able to work it up to see if there are any international connections here," Heed said. "It’s got to be from the ground up. It can’t be from the top down."