NDP Premier of British Columbia, David Eby. / BC NDP

When Narendra Modi and Mark Carney were discussing the restoration of diplomatic ties with the appointment of High Commissioners in each other’s countries, an unsavory controversy was waiting to unfold.

NDP Premier of British Columbia, David Eby, called on the federal  Liberal government to classify India’s Bishnoi gang as a terrorist group. Conservative Mayor of Brampton, Patrick Brown, seconded his demand and so did three of his immediate deputies.

Mayor Patrick Brown, who ran for the leadership of the Conservative Party but later withdrew his candidature, was joined by Deputy Mayor Harkirat Singh and Regional Councillors Gurpartap Singh Toor and Navjit Kaur Brar, in formally submitting a request to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree, urging the Government of Canada to designate the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity.

Before Narendra Modi left the shores of Canada after attending the G7 summit on June 16 and 17,  the demand for declaring Lawrence Bishnoi, currently lodged in Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat, started hawking media headlines as the constituents of two main Opposition parties – New Democrats and Conservatives – wanted the Liberal government led by Mark Carney to act.

Also Read: India-Canada to reappoint envoys after Modi-Mark meeting at G7

Though initial demand for action against Lawrence Bishnoi gang came from constituents of both the NDP and Conservatives, the call for action has grown louder countrywide, demanding action against Lawrence Bishnoi, a transnational criminal network led from India, linked to a growing wave of violence, extortion, and intimidation targeting South Asian communities in  Surrey in British Columbia and Brampton in Ontario.

The gang’s operations—allegedly involving hundreds of international operatives—have created a climate of fear and instability, particularly through the exploitation of vulnerable individuals, including international students.

A day before David Eby made the initial demand, a meeting of victims of extortion and transnational crime was held in Surrey.

Surrey and Brampton have the largest Sikh population in Canada.

The demand to declare the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity has set a political storm in motion, holding that the gang was carrying out its activities in Canada at the behest of certain agencies and agents. Intriguingly, no police force has come out openly with any evidence linking Lawrence Bishnoi to threats, kidnappings, extortions and killings.

“This is a serious step,” Eby said. “It gives police significant investigative tools. We don’t make this recommendation lightly, but this activity strikes at public confidence in the justice system, in our democracy and the safety of the community, and it erodes public confidence in the rule of law.”

A terrorist listing means the federal government can freeze any property of that group in Canada. It also gives police more tools to prosecute terrorist offences, including those related to financing, travel and recruitment.

Since British Columbia in general and Surrey in particular have witnessed a steep hike in cases of extortion and threats, police have been generally reluctant to comment on a link between the extortion and the gang. It could be the reason that the Opposition in British Columbia was taken by surprise at the demand made by David Eby.

Elenore Sturko, Opposition critic in British Columbia, while questioning David Eby’s demand,  said she was not aware that police had “definitively” linked the Bishnoi gang to any extortion cases. “The police have not come out and told my community that this gang is responsible for these incidents,” she told the media, calling the announcement “dramatic” and “headline-grabbing.”

Former B.C. solicitor general Kash Heed accused Eby of “raising Bishnoi’s profile” by linking him to terrorism: “It’s a political response when what is needed is an operational response.” He said that while Bishnoi’s name has certainly been mentioned by extortionists in their threats, it is unclear if the gang is behind the extortion or if it is simply being invoked as an intimidation tactic.

In Brampton, Mayor Patrick Brown said,“The safety of residents is our top priority. Designating the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organisation would provide law enforcement with the tools they need to disrupt and dismantle this dangerous network. This is about protecting our communities from violence, intimidation, and criminal exploitation.”

Mayor Brown and members of Brampton Council reaffirm their commitment to working with all levels of government to keep communities safe.

The police organisations hold that once the Bishnoi gang was declared a non-entity, it would enhance their investigation powers.

Essentially, an organised crime group in northern India, the Bishnoi gang had reportedly spread its tentacles to many parts of the world, including North America, which appears to have extended its influence to North America in recent years. Its main source of funding,  Indian media reports suggest, has been extortion.  

Though lodged in a Gujarat jail, the head of the gang, Lawrence Bishnoi, has been able to maintain communication with his associates. One of his confidants,  Goldy Brar, initially believed to be based in Canada,  had allegedly claimed responsibility for the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala. Brar has been eluding arrest.

Though both BC  police and Peel regional Police in Ontario have received dozens of extortion reports for the past couple of years, they have been reluctant to reveal any evidence against Larence Bishnoi or any other gang of Indian origin.  Even the victims have been reluctant to come out openly for police assistance, fearing the worst. There has been an uptick in the number of people receiving letters, phone calls and social-media messages demanding money under threat of violence.

Several houses and businesses, both in British Columbia and Ontario, have also been targeted in recent weeks in cases linked to extortion.

After British Columbia Premier David Eby’s revelation that the gang had been linked to some extortions and other crimes against South Asian community members in B.C., Alberta and Ontario, now the Brampton Mayor and his senior deputies, too, have come out openly against growing gang operations.

Maninder Singh Dhaliwal, 35, is believed to be the leader of the criminal group responsible for the extortions. Police had previously said he was affiliated with the Brothers Keepers gang. Earlier this year, he was arrested on unrelated charges in the United Arab Emirates. Canada has applied to extradite him to face charges in the extortion scheme.

The arrest of four Indian nationals in the murder of Surrey Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2024 renewed interest in the Bishnoi gang’s links to Canada. All four — three Edmonton residents and a fourth arrested in Ontario — allegedly had some association with the group.

Media quoted Brenda Winpenny of the anti-gang Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia saying the “agency was aware of individuals operating under this name, Bishnoi, and we are working with our partners to share any kind of intelligence or information.”

Balpreet Singh of the World Sikh Organisation of Canada said he supported Eby’s request, claiming the Indian government has been using the gang as a proxy to commit violent acts.

Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had said in 2023  that  “Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India” and Nijjar’s killing.

 

Here is the Letter from the Mayor and his team written to PM Mark Carney:

Dear Prime Minister Carney and Minister Anandasangaree,

Subject: Request to Designate the Bishnoi Gang as a Terrorist Entity

We, the undersigned, are writing to urgently request that the Government of Canada designate the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity. This criminal organisation, led by Lawrence Bishnoi from within Sabarmati Central Jail in India, poses a significant threat to public safety in Canada, particularly in the Region of Peel, through its involvement in heinous crimes terrorising our communities.

The Bishnoi gang has been linked to several high-profile criminal activities in Canada, including murder and extortion, with a particular impact on the South Asian diaspora. In the Region of Peel, the Bishnoi gang’s activities extend beyond murder to include widespread extortion schemes targeting South Asian business owners. These schemes involve threats of death or violence, creating an atmosphere of fear and undermining public confidence in law enforcement and our justice system.

The gang exploits vulnerable individuals, including international students and those struggling with addiction, recruiting them as “shooters” to carry out these crimes. This predatory recruitment strategy destabilises our communities and disproportionately harms marginalized groups. Peel Regional Police are also in support of this designation as a helpful investigative tool, enhancing their ability to combat this criminal network. The Bishnoi gang’s operations, reportedly involving over 700 operatives internationally, mirror the tactics of terrorist organisations by publicly claiming responsibility for high-profile murders to intimidate and assert influence over the Indian diaspora.

Their actions threaten the safety and security of residents in Brampton and the broader Region of Peel, necessitating immediate federal action. Designating the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity would empower law enforcement with critical tools to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle their operations. This step would also send a clear message that Canada will not tolerate transnational criminal networks that endanger our citizens.

We echo the call of British Columbia Premier David Eby and the World Sikh Organization is urging this designation to address the escalating crisis of violence and extortion in our country. Thank you for your attention to this pressing matter. We are available to discuss this request further and provide any Additional information required.

Sincerely,

Patrick Brown Mayor, City of Brampton

Harkirat Singh, Deputy Mayor, City of Brampton

Gurpartap Singh Toor Regional Councillor, Wards 9 and 10

Navjit Kaur Brar Regional Councillor, Wards 2 and 6