The Canadian government is considering designating the Lawrence Bishnoi gang a terrorist organization, amid allegations of its involvement in multiple murders and extortion activities targeting the South Asian community in Canada. British Columbia Premier David Eby and Alberta Premier Daniel Smith have both called for the designation, citing the need for law enforcement to have the necessary tools to investigate and disrupt the gang’s activities.
The Bishnoi gang has claimed responsibility for the murders of Harjit Singh Dhadda, a trucking insurance businessman, and MP Dhanoa, both of Indian origin. The gang’s leader, Lawrence Bishnoi, is currently imprisoned in India and is believed to control a network of over 700 sharpshooters who carry out murders and extortion globally.
Canadian officials have accused the Bishnoi gang of acting at the behest of Indian intelligence agencies to target critics of the Indian government on Canadian soil. The allegations have strained diplomatic relations between Canada and India, with India rejecting the claims and accusing Canada of not taking action on its extradition requests.
Amarnath Amarasingam, a researcher on extremism and an associate professor at Queen’s University in Ontario, said that listing the Bishnoi group as a terrorist organization would significantly broaden law enforcement powers and send a strong signal to India and other allies that Canada is taking the transnational threat seriously. However, he warned that using terrorism powers to target a group that lacks ideological objectives could set a dangerous precedent and weaken the credibility of Canada’s listing process.
The Bishnoi gang’s activities have sparked fear and insecurity among the Indian-origin community in Canada, with several businessmen receiving threatening calls and extortion demands. Satish Kumar, a 73-year-old businessman in Surrey, British Columbia, said he lives in constant fear after receiving a phone call from a man who identified himself as Godara, a Bishnoi associate. “They could execute me at any moment,” Kumar said.
The Canadian government has suggested that it is examining the demands to designate the Bishnoi gang a terrorist entity. Secretary of State for Combating Crime Ruby Sahota said that public safety must come first, and if a group meets the criteria, it should be listed without delay.