Community mourns Surrey’s Navdeep Kaur while police investigate

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In February, Navdeep Kaur, a 28-year-old woman living in Surrey, disappeared. Five months later, her remains were found along the banks of the Fraser River.

The news from homicide investigators Wednesday sent waves of grief throughout the West Newton neighbourhood where Kaur lived — and where she was last seen on Feb. 22 at 10:30 p.m. in the 7800 block of 123 Street.

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“It’s so sad. She was so young and lived on our street,” said Serina Sidhu, one of Kaur’s neighbours. “Navdeep’s husband and child hadn’t come over from India yet.”

The case that began as a missing person is now a murder investigation.

“We’re asking anyone who has any information to please call IHIT immediately,” said Cpl. Sukhi Dhesi of the Lower Mainland’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.

Kaur’s family reported her missing on Feb. 23, the day after she disappeared. At the time, police said her family was worried about her well-being because it wasn’t like her to not stay in touch.

Five months later, on July 23, a body was discovered near an industrial area in Richmond, where Williams Road meets the Fraser River. This week police confirmed Kaur’s remains.

Kaur’s co-worker, Sandu Gaggu, said: “Navdeep was the kind of person you’d always have the best time with. So she was so talkative and lively.”

“There were several factors that contributed to the delay in identifying the remains,” said Sgt. David Lee of IHIT. “I can’t go into specifics, as it would compromise the investigation.”

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Lee confirmed that evidence at the scene — as examined by the police evidence specialists and the B.C. Coroners Service — suggests Kaur’s death was suspicious. “It does not appear to be an accident, drowning, or suicide,” he said.

Just two streets from Kaur’s home, at 124 Street and 80th Avenue, is the 24-hour Gurdwara Amrit Parkash, where the Punjabi woman was a regular visitor.

Gurdwara caretaker Joga Singh said police earlier had requested access to the temple’s security footage as part of their investigation into Kaur’s disappearance.

“The news that she was found dead is a horrifying,” Singh said. “To think that someone so close by was killed… We always advise the ladies, ‘When you’re out late at night, make sure you’re with someone.’”

The news of Kaur’s death has left a void in the community.

“She was a very sweet girl, always praying at the temple or cooking food for members in the kitchen,” said member Balwinder Singh.

“There were so many days I would see her smiling face as she walked those local roads, to the temple. I’m just heartbroken over this.”

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact  IHIT at 1-877-551-4448 or email ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

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sgrochowski@postmedia.com

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