CHANDIGARH: A prominent Indian-origin Punjabi businessman, Darshan Singh Sahsi, and a leading figure in the community of Abbotsford city in British Columbia, Canada, was shot dead outside his house on Monday. He hailed from Rajgarh village near Doraha in Ludhiana.
The 68-year-old Sahsi was the President of Canam International, one of the world’s leading clothing recyclers. He lived in the Ridgeview Drive area of Abbotsford, near Surrey, and was about to get into his car to leave for his office in Maple Ridge when he was shot dead. He died on the spot after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds. It is learnt that the shooter was waiting in a car parked on the roadside, and as soon as Sahsi sat in his vehicle, the assailant opened fire and fled the scene.
The Canadian Police have launched a formal investigation into the killing and are probing a possible connection to a ransom case. Reports suggest that Sahsi had received ransom calls in the past, which he had ignored.
According to the Abbotsford Police Department, the shooting took place at 9:22 a.m. in the 31300 block of Ridgeview Drive. “When officers arrived at the scene after receiving information, they discovered a 68-year-old man inside a vehicle suffering from life-threatening injuries. Despite lifesaving medical efforts by first responders, the man succumbed to his injuries. As a precaution, three nearby schools were briefly placed under a shelter-in-place protocol. No students were harmed or directly impacted,” the police said.
Sergeant Paul Walker stated, “No arrests have been made at this time. The investigation is still in its early stages, and additional resources have been deployed to uncover the full circumstances surrounding the incident. The Abbotsford Police Department’s Major Crime Unit is transitioning the case to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT), which will provide further updates as the investigation progresses.”
Sahsi migrated to Canada in 1991 and initially worked in odd jobs before purchasing shares in a sick industrial unit, which he later transformed into a globally recognized name in the clothing recycling industry.
According to Canam Group’s official website, the company is recognized in over 40 countries for its transparent and sustainable business practices and has been an integral part of the global textile recycling supply chain since the early 1990s.
Sahsi had been a patron of the Punjabi Sahit Akademi, Ludhiana, since 2012, and was widely respected for his contributions to promoting the Punjabi language and cultural heritage. He was also known for his philanthropy and active involvement in community initiatives.
Meanwhile, Sahsi’s relatives in Ludhiana are coordinating with Indian officials in Canada to have his body repatriated for the last rites in his native village.
