Liquor vendor from Jalandhar dies ‘fighting robber’ at his store in Canada

Sukhjit "Sunny" Randhawa, a 48-year-old businessman of Punjab origin, passed away in Canada after allegedly defending his liquor store from a robbery. The incident occurred at Connect Liquor in Edmonton's Cromdale neighbourhood on Wednesday, when Randhawa tried to stop a thief from stealing alcohol. In an attempt to thwart the robbery, he locked the store's front doors, but was subsequently attacked.

Emergency responders provided medical assistance at the scene before transporting Randhawa to the hospital, where he tragically succumbed to his injuries. The Edmonton police have charged 22-year-old Nicholas Butler-Chowace with second-degree murder in connection with the incident, and the investigation remains ongoing. The business community in Edmonton was shocked by the incident, with some business owners considering altering their operating hours for safety reasons.

Known to be a gentle and helpful individual, Randhawa's close ties to Jalandhar, including his alumnus status from DAV School, have drawn attention from the Punjabi community. Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack mourned the senseless act of violence as a profound tragedy and extended his condolences to Randhawa's family and the wider community.