Ontario (Canada), March 5 – The murder of a prominent social media influencer, who was also a well-known critic of Khalistan, has shocked the Punjabi diaspora community in Canada, even as investigators in LaSalle – a town in the Windsor-Essex region of Ontario – struggle to identify the perpetrators.
Nancy Grewal, 45, was stabbed to death at her residence on March 3. According to reports, emergency services responded to a report of a stabbing shortly before 9:30 pm, and paramedics from the Essex-Windsor Emergency Medical Services found Grewal suffering from multiple severe stab wounds. She was rushed to a hospital, but succumbed to her injuries shortly after.
"Grewal was a prominent social media influencer and YouTuber within the Punjabi diaspora community. She gained attention for her outspoken commentary on issues related to Punjab, Indian politics, and matters affecting the diaspora. She frequently criticised figures and movements associated with Khalistani extremism, including Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of Sikhs for Justice, a banned entity," Khalsa Vox reported.
"Grewal accused Pannun and similar activists of being influenced by external forces, defaming Sikh institutions, and promoting division rather than genuine advocacy. She publicly challenged Khalistani narratives, urging critics to address issues directly in India rather than from abroad, and condemned what she saw as the misuse of gurdwaras for separatist propaganda," the report added.
In a statement released on Thursday (Indian time), the LaSalle Police Service said that investigators are viewing this as an "isolated" incident.
"The LaSalle Police Service continues to investigate a homicide that occurred on Todd Lane just before 9:30 p.m. on March 3, 2026. The victim is Nancy Grewal, 45, of Windsor. The LaSalle Police Service offers our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Ms. Grewal. To ease public concern, we are sharing that investigators are viewing this as an isolated incident," read the statement issued by the local police service.
Sharing the Detective Sergeant's number, the police authorities appealed that they are also seeking video surveillance from anyone living nearby.
Meanwhile, Grewal's death has shocked the local Windsor-LaSalle community and online followers, highlighting the risks faced by vocal figures in polarised discussions, as reported by Khalsa Vox on Thursday.
