By Ananya Varma,Priyank Tripathi
Copyright timesnownews
The Government of Canada has officially listed the Bishnoi Gang as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code, citing its “violent operations” across the country. Announcing the decision, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said acts of terror and intimidation have no place in Canada. “Groups that use fear, violence, and extortion to target communities must be held accountable,” he said. “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 Bishnoi Gang engages in murder, shootings and arson, and generates terror through extortion and intimidation. They create a climate of insecurity in these communities by targeting them, their prominent community members, businesses, and cultural figures. Listing the Bishnoi Gang will help Canadian security, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies in combatting their crimes and making communities safer,” the Canadian government said in its release. With the listing, the Bishnoi Gang is now legally defined as a “terrorist group.” This allows Canadian authorities to freeze or seize its assets, prosecute members and supporters for terrorism-related offences, and crack down on activities such as financing, recruitment, and travel. It also makes it a criminal offence for anyone in Canada, or Canadians abroad, to provide property or resources to the gang. Police and intelligence agencies will now have broader legal grounds to investigate, charge, and prosecute individuals connected to the gang. Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, individuals associated with or supporting the Bishnoi Gang can be denied entry, deported, or declared inadmissible. Currently lodged in Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Lawrence Bishnoi, the head of the gang, has been linked to several high-profile crimes even in India. His network is accused in the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala and Mumbai politician Baba Siddiqui and has repeatedly issued threats to actor Salman Khan. Prominent members of the gang include his younger brother, Anmol Bishnoi, and Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar. In Canada, the gang’s name surfaced prominently after the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023. The incident placed the Bishnoi gang at the centre of controversy in Canadian politics and strained ties between India and Canada, with the then-Justin Trudeau–led government alleging that Indian intelligence had used “criminal organisations like the Lawrence Bishnoi gang” to carry out overseas operations. For all the latest news and india news, visit Times Now to get live updates and breaking news around the world.
