BATHINDA: A brutal and targeted shooting in Edmonton, Canada, has taken the lives of two young Punjabi students, sending waves of shock and grief across oceans to the Budhlada sub-division of Punjab’s Mansa district. What began as an ordinary night among friends ended in sudden violence, leaving two families shattered and entire villages in mourning.

A deep pall of gloom descended on two villages in the Budhlada sub-division after news reached home that two youths, Gurdeep Singh of Barre village and Ranvir Singh of Uddat Saidewala, were allegedly shot by unidentified assailants in Edmonton during the early hours of Friday, local time in Canada. The news spread quickly, plunging both villages into silence and disbelief as residents struggled to come to terms with the sudden loss of two young lives.

Family members of the deceased said that neither Gurdeep nor Ranvir had ever shared any fear or concern about threats to their safety. Both were focused on building their futures abroad and had been hopeful about their careers. Gurdeep’s family suspects that the attack could be a case of mistaken identity, as the SUV in which the victims collapsed did not belong to them. According to relatives, the two had only just entered the vehicle when the assailants opened fire without warning.

The victims were identified as Gurdeep Singh, 27, from Bareh village, and Ranveer Singh, 19, from Uddat Saidewala village. Both had reached Canada at different times to pursue education and employment opportunities. Gurdeep had arrived in Canada around two-and-a-half years ago. He had completed his studies and was waiting for approval of his work permit, with plans to reunite with his wife. He had been married since 2020. Ranveer, much younger, had moved to Canada only recently and was still settling into student life.

The incident took place shortly after 10 pm on December 12. According to Darshan Singh, Gurdeep’s uncle, the first account of the tragedy came from his son, Arshdeep Singh, who was present at the scene. A party involving nearly a dozen friends had just ended at a first-floor apartment. As the gathering broke up, a few friends decided to go out for dinner and left in two separate cars.

Ranveer Singh was driving one of the vehicles, with Gurdeep Singh seated beside him in the front passenger seat. Suddenly, the car was ambushed. Unidentified individuals opened fire on the vehicle and fled the scene immediately after the attack. Arshdeep, who had stayed back at the apartment, rushed downstairs when he heard about the shooting. By the time he reached the spot, Ranveer had died on the spot.

Gurdeep, though still breathing at that moment, appeared to have been struck by shrapnel. He then suffered what seemed to be a sudden heart attack and died despite attempts to revive him through CPR. Darshan Singh recounted these details based on what his son later told him, describing the chaos and panic that followed the shooting.

Police reached the scene within minutes. Darshan Singh said Arshdeep informed him that officers detained all 10 friends who had attended the party and collected their mobile phones as part of the initial investigation. After preliminary questioning, all were released, though they have been summoned again for further questioning on December 17. The post-mortem examinations have been scheduled for December 16.

Police have described the incident as targeted and are searching for a dark-coloured SUV believed to have been in the area at the time. Investigators have appealed to the public for dash camera or security footage recorded between 2 pm on December 11 and 2.30 am on December 12 to help trace the suspects.

Ranvir, 19, had flown to Canada in March last year and was aiming to secure employment in the United States. His uncle, Manpreet Singh, speaking to Hindustan Times over the phone from his native village on Sunday, said Ranvir had travelled from Brampton to Calgary for a counselling session linked to a job opportunity in the accountancy field in the US.

“Ranvir was staying with his cousin and another relative in Brampton. After attending a job counselling session in Calgary on December 10, one of his friends invited him to a birthday party in Edmonton. Ranvir’s friends told us that as soon as he occupied the driver’s seat of an SUV owned by an associate of his friend, he was shot dead,” the uncle said.

Ranvir was described by his family as a bright commerce student who was enrolled in an accountancy course. “He was the only son of my elder brother and the entire family is in a state of shock. We have learnt that the Canadian police are investigating the case and we are seeking justice,” Manpreet added, expressing the family’s grief and hope for accountability.

Gurdeep, 27, a resident of Barre village, is survived by his wife Amandeep Kaur and his parents. His uncle, Darshan Singh, said Gurdeep had moved to Canada in 2023 and was actively planning to bring his wife to live with him there.

“We live in a joint family, and my son Arshdeep Singh joined Gurdeep in Canada last year. After completing a course in truck mechanics, he was preparing to apply for a job visa. He had developed expertise in the profession, but the unfortunate incident has shattered the family,” Darshan said. He also noted that Arshdeep had not attended the birthday party because of work commitments.

“After the incident, Arshdeep rushed to the spot, and around 10 youths, including my son, were detained by the police. They were later released, but their mobile phones were seized. Arshdeep called me in the wee hours of Friday to inform me about the incident. Initially, I thought it was a prank, but one of his friends connected him to me through a video call and narrated the entire episode,” Darshan said, describing the moment the family realised the tragedy was real.

Quoting his son further, Darshan said the owners of the SUV had chosen to sit in the back seats, while Ranvir and Gurdeep occupied the front seats. “We have been told that an autopsy will be conducted next week. The family is awaiting details of the crime, including the exact cause of death,” he added.

Gurdeep had married Amandeep in March 2020. “Amandeep was scheduled to go to Canada on a student visa but the programme was shelved due to restrictions imposed in view of the coronavirus outbreak. Later, Gurdeep worked hard to get a study visa with a plan to settle abroad with his wife,” his uncle added, highlighting the couple’s long struggle to build a life together.

In an official statement, the Edmonton Police Service said it received reports of gunshots at around 1.43 am on December 12 in the area of 32 Street and 26 Avenue. Responding officers found two men suffering from gunshot wounds inside or near a vehicle. Despite immediate life-saving efforts by police and emergency medical services, both victims were declared dead at the scene.

Police have classified the case as a targeted shooting and handed the investigation over to the homicide section. Investigators said the incident did not appear to be random, though no motive has been disclosed so far. Autopsies are scheduled for December 16 and 17.

As part of the investigation, police are seeking information about a dark-coloured SUV seen in the area around the time of the shooting. They have appealed for dashcam or security footage from nearby locations, including Silverberry Road and 23 Avenue, recorded between 2 pm on December 11 and 2.30 am on December 12. Details of the appeal are available on the official Edmonton Police Service website at https://www.edmontonpolice.ca.

Family members said both youths had moved to Canada in search of education and employment opportunities. Gurdeep had recently completed his studies and was waiting for his work permit. Relatives said they were informed about the incident by a friend, who told them that both were on their way to meet friends when unidentified attackers opened fire on their vehicle.

The deaths have cast a heavy shadow over Bareh and Uddat Saidewala villages, where residents remembered the victims as hardworking, ambitious, and full of dreams. Locals said the tragedy reflects the risks faced by many Punjabi youths who travel abroad hoping for better futures. Police have confirmed that no arrests have been made so far and have urged anyone with information to come forward to assist the investigation.