CHANDIGARH: The Canadian government has officially listed the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code, a move aimed at curbing crimes targeting prominent members of the Indian diaspora in the country.
As a designated terrorist group, the Bishnoi gang now meets the definition under Canada’s Criminal Code. This listing allows authorities to freeze or seize any property, vehicles, or money owned by the group and provides law enforcement with additional tools to prosecute terrorist-related offenses, including those involving financing, travel, and recruitment.
It is a criminal offense for anyone in Canada, or Canadians abroad, to knowingly deal with property controlled by a terrorist group or to provide property that benefits the group. The designation can also influence immigration and border decisions under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
“The Bishnoi Gang is a transnational criminal organisation operating primarily out of India. They have a presence in Canada and are active in areas with significant diaspora communities. The gang engages in murder, shootings, and arson, generating terror through extortion and intimidation. They target community members, businesses, and cultural figures, creating a climate of insecurity. Listing the Bishnoi Gang will help Canadian security, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies combat their crimes and make communities safer,” the Canadian government said in a statement.
With this addition, there are now 88 terrorist entities listed under the Criminal Code, including two pro-Khalistan groups: Babbar Khalsa International and the International Sikh Youth Federation. Canada began adding criminal groups to the list earlier this year following pressure from the administration of US President Donald Trump to designate Mexican cartels.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said, “Acts of violence and terror have no place in Canada, especially those targeting specific communities to create fear and intimidation. The Bishnoi Gang has terrorized specific communities, and listing them provides more powerful and effective tools to stop their crimes.”
Politicians from multiple parties had urged the Canadian government to declare the Bishnoi gang a terrorist organisation. In August, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre cited a surge of extortion threats in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario targeting the South Asian community and demanded the terror designation. Premiers of Alberta and British Columbia also supported the move.
Since 2023, the gang has been active in British Columbia, Ontario, and Alberta, linked to over 50 violent incidents. These include throwing firebombs at the houses of Punjabi singers Gippy Grewal and AP Dhillon and shooting at comedian Kapil Sharma’s café.
In October last year, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Mike Duheme linked the gang to state-sponsored operations, including the June 2023 murder of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjer in Surrey. India has denied these claims but said it had warned Canada about the gang’s activities.
Other violent incidents include the killing of former gangster Sukhdool Singh Gill in Winnipeg in September 2023 and businessman Harjit Singh in Brampton in July, both claimed by the Bishnoi gang on social media.
The Bishnoi gang has grown into a transnational crime syndicate, active in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and now in Canada and the US, particularly in areas with significant Indian-origin populations. Headed by Lawrence Bishnoi from Fazilka, Punjab, and currently lodged in Sabarmati Jail, Ahmedabad, the gang uses fear, extortion, and targeted killings to spread terror, often executing cross-border operations.
According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the gang operates with over 700 shooters across five Indian states and maintains international connections. It recruits young individuals, often luring them with promises of emigration to Western countries like Canada through social media.