When Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Mark Carney were discussing the restoration of diplomatic ties through the appointment of High Commissioners in each other’s countries, an unsavory controversy was waiting to unfold. The NDP Premier of British Columbia, David Eby, called on the federal Liberal government to classify India’s Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organization. Conservative Mayor of Brampton, Patrick Brown, seconded his demand, along with three of his immediate deputies.

Mayor Patrick Brown, who had run for the leadership of the Conservative Party but later withdrew his candidacy, was joined by Deputy Mayor Harkirat Singh and Regional Councillors Gurpartap Singh Toor and Navjit Kaur Brar in formally submitting a request to Prime Minister Carney and Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree, urging the Government of Canada to designate the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity.

Before PM Modi left Canada after attending the G7 summit on June 16 and 17, the demand to declare Lawrence Bishnoi, currently lodged in Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat, as a terrorist began making headlines. Members of the two main opposition parties, the New Democrats and the Conservatives, wanted the Liberal government led by PM Carney to act.

Although the initial call for action against the Lawrence Bishnoi gang came from both the NDP and Conservatives, the demand has since grown louder across the country. There is increasing pressure for action against what is described as a transnational criminal network led from India and linked to a wave of violence, extortion, and intimidation targeting South Asian communities in Surrey, British Columbia, and Brampton, Ontario. The gang’s operations, allegedly involving hundreds of international operatives, have created a climate of fear and instability, particularly by exploiting vulnerable individuals, including international students.

A day before Premier Eby made his initial demand, a meeting of victims of extortion and transnational crime was held in Surrey.

Surrey and Brampton have the largest Sikh populations in Canada. The demand to declare the Bishnoi gang a terrorist organization has sparked a political storm, amid allegations that the gang is operating in Canada at the behest of certain foreign agencies and agents. Intriguingly, no police force has come forward with concrete evidence linking Lawrence Bishnoi to threats, kidnappings, extortion, or killings.

Premier Eby called on the federal government earlier this week to classify India’s Bishnoi gang as a terrorist group. He said he plans to write to the federal government to formally request the terrorist listing.

“This is a serious step,” Eby said. “It gives police significant investigative tools. We don’t make this recommendation lightly, but this activity strikes at public confidence in the justice system, in our democracy, and the safety of the community. It erodes public confidence in the rule of law.”

A terrorist listing allows the federal government to freeze any assets belonging to the group in Canada. It also gives police expanded powers to prosecute terrorist offences, including those related to financing, travel, and recruitment.

Since British Columbia in general, and Surrey in particular, has witnessed a steep rise in cases of extortion and threats, police have been cautious in linking these incidents directly to the Bishnoi gang. This may explain why the Opposition in British Columbia was caught off guard by Premier Eby’s demand.

Elenore Sturko, Opposition critic in British Columbia, questioned Eby’s statement, noting that she was not aware of any definitive police confirmation linking the Bishnoi gang to extortion cases. “The police have not come out and told my community that this gang is responsible for these incidents,” she told the media, calling the announcement “dramatic” and “headline-grabbing.”

Former B.C. Solicitor General Kash Heed accused Eby of “raising Bishnoi’s profile” by linking him to terrorism. “It’s a political response when what is needed is an operational response,” he said. While Bishnoi’s name has certainly been invoked by extortionists, Heed noted, it remains unclear whether the gang is actually behind the threats, or whether its name is being used as a scare tactic.

In Brampton, Mayor Patrick Brown stated, “The safety of residents is our top priority. Designating the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organization would provide law enforcement with the tools they need to disrupt and dismantle this dangerous network. This is about protecting our communities from violence, intimidation, and criminal exploitation.”

Mayor Brown and members of the Brampton Council reaffirmed their commitment to working with all levels of government to keep communities safe. Police organizations argue that designating the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity would significantly enhance their investigative powers.

Originally an organized crime group based in northern India, the Bishnoi gang has reportedly extended its operations to multiple regions worldwide, including North America. According to Indian media reports, its primary source of funding has been extortion.

Despite being imprisoned in Gujarat, gang leader Lawrence Bishnoi has allegedly maintained communication with his associates. One of his close aides, Goldy Brar—initially believed to be based in Canada—allegedly claimed responsibility for the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala. Brar has since remained at large.

Both BC Police and Peel Regional Police in Ontario have received numerous reports of extortion in recent years, yet they remain reluctant to disclose any evidence directly implicating Lawrence Bishnoi or any other Indian-origin gang. Even the victims have been hesitant to approach law enforcement, fearing retaliation. There has been a notable rise in the number of people receiving threatening letters, phone calls, and social media messages demanding money under threat of violence.

Several homes and businesses in both British Columbia and Ontario have been targeted in recent weeks in cases reportedly linked to extortion. After Premier Eby’s statement about the gang’s involvement in extortions and crimes against members of the South Asian community in B.C., Alberta, and Ontario, Mayor Brown and his senior deputies have now also spoken out against the gang’s expanding footprint.

Maninder Singh Dhaliwal, 35, is believed to be the leader of the criminal group orchestrating the extortions. He was previously linked to the Brothers Keepers gang and was arrested earlier this year in the United Arab Emirates on unrelated charges. Canada has since filed for his extradition to face charges related to the extortion scheme.

The 2024 arrest of four Indian nationals in the murder of Surrey Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar reignited concerns over the Bishnoi gang’s presence in Canada. The suspects, three residents of Edmonton and one arrested in Ontario, allegedly had ties to the group.

Media reports quoted Brenda Winpenny of the anti-gang Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia as saying the “agency was aware of individuals operating under this name, Bishnoi, and we are working with our partners to share any kind of intelligence or information.”

Balpreet Singh of the World Sikh Organization of Canada expressed support for Premier Eby’s request, asserting that the Indian government has been using the gang as a proxy to carry out violent acts. Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had stated in 2023 that “Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India” and Nijjar’s killing.

Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed in this article/column are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of South Asian Herald.

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