The British Columbia government and RCMP have announced a provincial task force dedicated to investigating a spate of extortions and violence aimed at the South Asian community.

Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger said Wednesday the RCMP will lead the group consisting of 40 members from enforcement agencies throughout B.C. as they try to stop threats, shootings and extortions targeting South Asian families and businesses.

Krieger said the task force will expand the cross-jurisdictional reach of police and support co-ordinated investigations to bring those making the threats and committing violence to justice. 

She called the crimes targeting the South Asian community "deeply concerning."

"No person or family or business in our province should be threatened in this way, and we must do everything we can to stop these crimes," the minister said. 

The mayor of Surrey announced a $250,000 reward fund on Monday for information leading to convictions for the extortions in that city where police say they're investigating 44 such cases, including 27 that involved shootings. 

John Brewer, assistant commissioner of the provincial RCMP, said the task force will bring dedicated and expanded resources, intelligence and tactical skills to help find those responsible for the violence, intimidation and fear. 

He couldn't say how many cases it would be investigating as the extortion files were constantly being updated and triaged through the new task force. 

"So, the number will go up daily. It'll also come down, because, as I said earlier, some of these are known extortion groups we're dealing with, and others are just that spur of the moment. Extortion may be done by a family member to another family member or a known friend."

Similar crimes have gripped communities across Canada, and police elsewhere have accused the India-based Lawrence Bishnoi gang of involvement, setting off a call from B.C. Premier David Eby and others to have the gang declared a terrorist organization. 

The province said $200,000 from the federal government's Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund would help municipal police departments investigate extortion cases.

Another $100,000 will be released through the same program to allow B.C. Crime Stoppers to continue its public awareness campaign to encourage people to report the threats and help police identify suspects. 

– Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press