Canada has officially designated the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist group, in response to appeals from Conservative and NDP lawmakers.
This classification prohibits Canadians from supporting or financing the gang, spearheaded by Lawrence Bishnoi, the notorious leader operating from a prison in India. Allegedly, Bishnoi has orchestrated criminal operations using a mobile phone from his confinement.
Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree stated, “Every individual in Canada deserves to feel secure in their homes and communities. It is our government’s paramount duty to shield them.” He emphasized that specific communities have been subjected to terror, violence, and coercion by the Bishnoi Gang. The official listing equips authorities with enhanced tools to combat and dismantle their illicit activities.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has accused India of employing the Bishnoi gang to carry out targeted killings and extortion schemes, particularly against individuals advocating for the establishment of Khalistan, a separate Sikh nation.
Contrary to these allegations, New Delhi has refuted the claims and instead asserts collaboration with Ottawa to disrupt the gang’s financial networks into Canada.
This new classification empowers law enforcement to confiscate assets and freeze bank accounts, heightening efforts to combat criminal activities that impact prominent members of India’s diaspora in Canada.
However, Wesley Wark, a respected fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation, has cautioned that while the terror designation is a step forward, Canada’s primary challenge lies in enhancing its capacity for gathering criminal intelligence.
Keyphrase: Bishnoi gang terrorism
