Canada formally labelled the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which is alleged to have organized murders, extortion rings, and global arms and narcotics trafficking, as a terrorist organization under the Criminal Code, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree stated on Monday night.
With this announcement, Canadian officials are now allowed to freeze or confiscate any asset owned by the group in Canada, including funds, vehicles, and properties. The action gives law enforcement more authority to go after members of the network, particularly when it comes to the funding of terrorism. Immigration officials will also be able to prohibit suspected members from coming into Canada.
"Acts of terror and violence have no room in Canada, particularly those intended to target certain communities to engender a climate of intimidation and fear," the government stated.
Canadian law now criminalizes citizens, both at home and abroad, for knowingly dealing with property belonging to the Bishnoi gang. Offering assets either directly or indirectly for the benefit of the group is also an offence.
The move is another historic step towards normalizing relations between India and Canada, which had hit rock bottom in the last few months of Justin Trudeau's rule. The move is made weeks after Conservative MP Frank Caputo, shadow Public Safety Minister, pushed Anandasangaree to officially designate the Bishnoi network as a terror group.
In his letter, Caputo highlighted the group's expansive criminal activities, stating that it was behind murders, extortion rackets against Canadian citizens, and violent acts carried out for "political, religious, and ideological motives." He further added, "The Bishnoi gang's activities pave the way for proscribing it as a terrorist group. You know they claimed responsibility for widespread violence in Canada and elsewhere."
Caputo's call was joined by demands by a number of other political leaders, including Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown — whose city is home to one of Canada's largest Sikh populations — British Columbia Premier David Eby, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, and Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke.
The Canadian government has long named the Bishnoi syndicate as one of the most feared organized crime groups in the country and held it responsible for cross-border smuggling of weapons and drugs.
Lawrence Bishnoi, who broke up with Canada-based partner Goldy Brar in June, has been linked to a series of high-profile murders. His gang was implicated in the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala in May 2022, the killing of Rajput leader Sukhdev Gogamedi in December 2023, and the assassination of Maharashtra politician Baba Siddique in October 2024. The gang was also linked to the firing outside the residence of actor Salman Khan earlier this year, which was a consequence of the ongoing blackbuck case.
Maybe the most globally impactful action was the June 2023 assassination of Hardeep Nijjar, who was a Canadian national and pro-Khalistani leader. Nijjar's murder ignited a heated diplomatic confrontation after Trudeau accused — without providing evidence — the Indian government of being complicit. New Delhi refuted the charges, accusing Trudeau of appeasing Khalistani extremist elements.
Things between the two countries broke down shortly thereafter. Since Trudeau's departure and the appointment of Mark Carney as Prime Minister, however, bilateral relations have been on a slow road to recovery. On Aug. 1, Ottawa posted a new diplomat in New Delhi — the first of such actions since both nations withdrew leading envoys in the standoff.
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