“Canada Blacklists Lawrence Bishnoi Gang as Terrorist Entity to Safeguard Communities and Businesses”

By Manisha Sahu, America News World

September 30, 2025

The Canadian government has formally designated the Lawrence Bishnoi gang a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code, marking a major escalation in Ottawa’s fight against transnational organized crime groups targeting South Asian communities. The move, announced by Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, empowers law enforcement to freeze the gang’s assets, seize property, and prosecute affiliates for providing material or financial support.

The designation follows months of pressure from provincial leaders, opposition parties, and community organizations after a wave of extortion calls, shootings, and firebombings shook Canada’s Indian diaspora. According to officials, the Bishnoi gang has been linked to more than 50 violent incidents across British Columbia, Ontario, and Alberta since early 2023.

A Gang with Transnational Roots

The Bishnoi syndicate, originally based in Rajasthan, India, is led by incarcerated gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. Despite being behind bars, Bishnoi’s influence extends across international borders through a web of lieutenants and associates. In Canada, his operations are largely directed by Goldy Brar, a 29-year-old gangster based in Surrey, British Columbia, who fled India in 2017 on a study permit.

Brar has become the gang’s most visible figure, frequently using encrypted apps to coordinate activities. He openly claimed responsibility for the 2022 murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala in India, and authorities say he has since orchestrated extortion rackets and targeted attacks on diaspora figures from Canada.

“Designating this group gives law enforcement enhanced powers to combat a network that has instilled fear through violence and intimidation,” Minister Anandasangaree said during Monday’s press conference.

High-Profile Attacks Raise Alarm

The Bishnoi gang’s presence in Canada has been increasingly visible. Authorities link it to firebombing attacks on the homes of Punjabi musicians A P Dhillon and Gippy Grewal, as well as the August 2025 shooting outside comedian Kapil Sharma’s café in Surrey. Business leaders in Brampton and Edmonton have also reported widespread extortion demands, often backed by threats of arson or shootings.

RCMP officials say the gang frequently collaborates with smaller Canadian outfits such as the Brothers Keepers in Brampton, which have been accused of carrying out arsons and drive-by shootings on the gang’s behalf.

“These groups are not isolated criminal enterprises,” Assistant Commissioner Brigitte Gauvin said last year. “They operate as part of a wider transnational syndicate with the ability to fund and carry out homicides and violent acts across borders.”

Political and Community Pressure

The designation did not come overnight. British Columbia Premier David Eby first urged Prime Minister Mark Carney in June to take action, calling the gang’s activities “state-sponsored terror on our soil.” Alberta Premier Danielle Smith issued a similar demand the following month, joined by Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke.

Opposition leaders amplified these calls. Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre tied the designation to his crime-reduction platform, while NDP MPs also backed the move. Shadow Public Safety Minister Frank Caputo formally requested the designation on August 11.

The mounting pressure came against a backdrop of worsening violence. The RCMP has tied the gang to the September 2023 killing of Edmonton resident Sukhdool Singh Gill, a Khalistan-linked figure, as well as the July 2025 murder of Brampton businessman Harjit Singh. In both cases, suspects claimed allegiance to Bishnoi’s network on social media.

Ties to the Nijjar Case

The gang has also been linked to the June 2023 assassination of Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey. In October 2024, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme described the Bishnoi syndicate as being involved in “state-sponsored operations” in Canada. Indian officials have strongly rejected those claims, countering that they had repeatedly warned Ottawa of the gang’s threats and shared intelligence to curb its activities.

Two suspects – Karan Brar and Karanpreet Singh – arrested in May 2024 for Nijjar’s killing were found to have ties to the Bishnoi network, according to police reports.

Limited Impact, Experts Warn

While the terrorist designation strengthens police authority, analysts caution that its effectiveness may be limited. “The main issue is Canada’s lack of capacity in gathering criminal intelligence,” said Wesley Wark of the Centre for International Governance Innovation. “This move sends a strong signal, but enforcement on the ground remains the challenge.”

Nonetheless, officials hope the listing will bolster Canada’s hand in future extradition cases, particularly against high-profile figures such as Goldy Brar, who is wanted in India for multiple cases of murder and extortion.

A Diplomatic Undercurrent

The timing of the announcement also carries diplomatic weight. Canada–India relations have shown signs of improvement since the June 2025 G7 summit, with both nations reinstating their high commissioners after months of strained ties over Nijjar’s killing.

While New Delhi has yet to comment on the designation, experts suggest the move may ease bilateral tensions and open new channels of cooperation in tackling organized crime. “This could serve as a bridge for intelligence-sharing between Ottawa and New Delhi,” one senior official told America News World.

For Canada’s Indian diaspora, the government’s action is seen as both symbolic and practical. Community leaders hope it will deter the gang’s expanding influence and reassure residents who have lived under the shadow of extortion and violence.

Still, the specter of Bishnoi’s transnational network looms large. Reports in June suggested a rift between Bishnoi and Brar, but police say Brar continues to direct extortion rackets and targeted hits across Canada.

Whether the terrorist label translates into lasting security remains to be seen. For now, the Canadian government has sent a clear message: groups like the Bishnoi gang will be treated not just as organized criminals, but as a threat to national security.