Rising threat of Lawrence Bishnoi Gang sparks calls for terrorist designation in Canada

A recent wave of brutal killings targeting Indian-origin businessmen across Canada has sparked growing alarm and led to urgent demands for the federal government to label the India-based Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organization. The group, allegedly linked to Indian intelligence agencies, is believed to be expanding its international reach, raising concerns about national security and foreign interference.

Harjit Dhadda was killed in Mississauga on May 14 in broad daylight. The shooting reportedly occurred at around 11:49 a.m. As Harjit reached his office car park on May 14, he was confronted by two men. One of them fired multiple bullets into Harjit’s body before fleeing in a stolen 2018 Dodge Challenger. Harjit later died in hospital from his injuries.

Hours after the murder, two men claiming allegiance to the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang—a criminal network led by an imprisoned Indian national—publicly claimed responsibility in a Facebook post. The incident is part of a disturbing pattern: in the span of a month, shootings targeted multiple Indian-origin businessmen in Brampton and Surrey, British Columbia.

Canadian authorities warn that the Bishnoi gang, rooted in India, is expanding its violent operations into Canada. The network has been linked to extortion, targeted assassinations, and attempts to silence critics of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi abroad.

In light of growing concerns, several Canadian political leaders have called on the federal government to designate the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organization. Alberta Premier Daniel Smith highlighted the need for such a designation, emphasizing it would provide law enforcement with crucial tools and resources to combat the gang’s activities.

Alberta’s Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis confirmed credible intelligence implicating the Bishnoi gang in extortion and violence, particularly targeting Canada’s South Asian community. “Ongoing investigations are examining why this group is focusing on our communities,” Ellis said.

Canadian officials have also accused the gang of collaborating with Indian intelligence services, following the high-profile 2023 assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada—a killing that strained diplomatic relations between Canada and India.

Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Amritsar on September 22, 2023. Nijjar’s killing in Surrey, British Columbia,

The Sikh community, numbering about 770,000 in Canada—the largest Sikh population outside India—remains deeply affected. Many Sikh immigrants arrived in Canada during the 1980s following a violent crackdown on the Khalistan separatist movement in India, a movement labelled “terrorist” by New Delhi.

The Bishnoi gang, led by Lawrence Bishnoi who remains jailed in India, commands hundreds of operatives across borders through encrypted channels. The gang rose to infamy after allegedly orchestrating the 2022 assassination of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala.

The gang’s criminal activities span continents, with links to attacks on high-profile Indian celebrities such as Salman Khan, AP Dhillon, and Gippy Grewal. In one case, a 73-year-old temple leader faced death threats and extortion demands of C$2 million; after refusing to pay, his business properties were attacked.

Most recently, on August 7, a Bishnoi-linked gunman claimed responsibility for firing shots at a café owned by comedian Kapil Sharma in British Columbia.

In India, the gang continues its violent spree. In 2024, it claimed responsibility for the murder of Mumbai politician Baba Siddique and for firing outside Bollywood star Salman Khan’s residence, resulting in arrests.

The call for Canada to formally list the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity is gaining momentum, with advocates asserting such a move will enable sanctions, travel bans, and financial restrictions on the gang’s members and supporters—measures critical to safeguarding Canada’s diverse communities from this transnational threat.

In October 2024, Kshatriya Karni Sena, a right-wing group in India, has publicly announced a reward of ₹1,11,11,111 for any police officer who conducts an encounter to kill notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, currently imprisoned.

This dramatic declaration comes in response to the growing criminal influence of Bishnoi’s gang, which has been linked to several high-profile murders.