Achievers
Books
Business
Calender
Community
Controversy
Cuisine
Eateries
Education
Enterprise
Faith
Good Samaritans
Health
Infotech
Media
Memories
Movies
News Archives
Opinion
Specials
The Arts

Cab firm owner escapes bid on life

A P Kamath

Harry (Harcharan) Singh Brar does not know why a gunman shot at him but the owner of two cab companies in Toronto suburb says there are times he wonders why he is continuing in the business -- and why other immigrant cabbies should work the dangerous streets.

Brar told police that a man wearing dark clothes approached him near his home on Saturday. He said he also noticed a car, possibly with several occupants, parked nearby. Though he was hit in the leg, he ran away, Brar says. At least 10 bullets were fired at him but none of them found any vital organ.

"Violence against cabbies is increasing in Toronto and other Canadian cities," says Gurbir Singh, a cabbie for five years, "We must also not forget the fact that immigrants are often the first to get mugged or beaten up."

To many outsiders Canadian cities seem safer than the ones in America. "But people do not realize there is a lot of drug abuse in Canada, and very bad things happen when people drink or do drugs," Singh says.

Following the murder of two cab drivers -- one Indian and another Afghani -- last month in Toronto and the mugging of more than 20 drivers over a period of one year, taxi owners and drivers have agreed to a plan to have a shield protecting the driver from the passengers.

But the plan has not been put into effect. And many cabbies say that it may not have far-reaching consequences. "People can beat us up, kill us when we get out of the taxi," said one driver.

"What are we to do? Wear bullet proof jackets?" Maybe, the owners and the police could install cameras that take pictures of passengers and instantaneously send them to a designated police precinct, he suggests.

"Anything to cut down the risks people like us face is useful," says Gurbir Singh.

Meanwhile, investigators are finding out if the attack on Brar, 39, and father of three children, was motivated by personal reasons or someone decided to scare him as he is known to be the owner of fleet of taxis. Brar, who employs about 50 cabbies, bought his second company recently. His friends wonder whether someone was jealous of him.

There were speculations if Khalistan politics played a role but family members and friends say that Brar kept away from sectarian politics.

"Whatever the motive for the attack is," said Gurbir Singh, "it sends a very bad signal. When the owner of the taxi service is shot, it makes us all very scared."

Previous: Madonna teaches Ashtunga yoga

Next: Racism not a game, say Toronto Sikhs

Tell us what you think of this report