OTTAWA, CANADA – The Canadian government has officially listed the India-based Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity under the country's Criminal Code, a significant move aimed at curbing the group's violent activities and influence within Canada. The announcement was made on Monday by the Minister of Public Safety, Gary Anandasangaree.
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| Lawrence Bishnoi (File photo) |
This official designation provides Canadian authorities with powerful legal tools to combat the transnational criminal organization. The immediate effect of the listing is that it allows for the seizure of property and the freezing of assets and financial accounts linked to the Bishnoi gang.
In a statement, the Canadian government said the action was taken because the gang targets specific communities to create a "climate of fear and intimidation."
"The Bishnoi Gang is a transnational criminal organization operating primarily out of India. They have a presence in Canada and are active in areas with significant diaspora communities," the government statement read. "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 member
Led by Lawrence Bishnoi, who is currently imprisoned in India but allegedly continues to operate his network from behind bars, the gang has been linked to numerous high-profile crimes. These include the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala in India and a string of extortion rackets and violent acts within the South Asian community in Canada.
The implications of the terrorist designation are far-reaching. Under Canadian law, it is now a criminal offense for anyone in Canada or for Canadians abroad to knowingly deal with property owned or controlled by the Bishnoi gang. Furthermore, providing financial or material support to the group is strictly prohibited. The listing also strengthens the ability of law enforcement to prosecute offenses related to terrorist financing, travel, and recruitment, and can be used by immigration officials to deny entry to individuals associated with the group.
This move comes amid complex and often tense diplomatic relations between Canada and India. Canadian law enforcement has previously alleged that the Bishnoi gang may have been used by Indian intelligence services to target Sikh activists in Canada, a claim India has denied. The decision to list the group follows sustained calls from provincial leaders in British Columbia and Alberta, as well as federal opposition parties, to take stronger action against the gang's operations on Canadian soil.
