Hundreds attend community meeting after slaying of gurdwara president in Surrey, B.C.

Hundreds of people attended a community gathering on Monday at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwarain Surrey, B.C., after its president, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was shot and killed.

Nijjar was shotjust before 8:30 p.m. PTSundaywhile inhiscar in the Sikh temple's busy parking lot after evening prayers had concluded.

The 45-year-old had received threats because of his support for a separate Sikh state in India called Khalistan, according to temple officials.

The World Sikh Organization of Canada saidthe Canadian Security Intelligence Service and law enforcement in Canada failed to adequately protect Nijjar, who was a target of Indian intelligence.

At the gathering on Monday,the atmosphere was tense and strained, with multiple people expressing concern over the safety of the Sikh community in the Lower Mainland.

"He was a very nice person, and he was a very able leader," said Prabhsharanbir Singh, a community member in attendance. "He was raising issues of human rights and various other Sikh issues.

"That's why everyone respects him, and out of his respect, I am here."

Singh says he believes that Nijjar was targeted at the gurdwara. There was a generalfeeling at the gathering that the Canadian government and police could have done more to prevent the killing from happening.

"I think the state and the security apparatus need to be more proactive," Singhsaid.

CBC News has contactedCSISand the Consulate General of Indiafor comment on Nijjar's death.

Federal Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicinodid not directly answer a question from CBC News on whether Nijjar was known to be in danger in Canada or in contact with CSIS.