Canada has formally designated the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity, citing its use of “murder, shootings and arson” to threaten diaspora communities and its alleged ties with India’s ruling government. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree confirmed that the move empowers officials to seize gang assets and equips law enforcement with stronger legal tools.
The Bishnoi gang has been accused of involvement in the 2023 killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar near Vancouver—a murder that strained Canada-India relations. Canadian authorities allege the gang collaborated with Indian state agents to target Sikh separatists abroad, a charge Delhi continues to reject as baseless.
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Officials warn the gang has expanded its reach in Canada, spreading fear among Sikh and Punjabi communities through extortion and targeted violence. While the World Sikh Organization welcomed the designation, it urged Ottawa to also hold accountable the “true architects” of transnational intimidation. The case underscores Canada’s growing challenge of confronting foreign-linked criminal networks.
