Canada Lists Bishnoi Gang As ‘Terrorist Entity’, Citing Murder, Extortion, And Intimidation

Canada on Monday officially designated the Bishnoi Gang, a transnational criminal organization led by gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, as a terrorist entity under its Criminal Code. The move, announced by Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, grants Canadian law enforcement sweeping new powers to combat the group’s activities, which include murder, extortion, and creating a climate of fear, particularly within Canada’s South Asian diaspora.

“Today, our government listed the Bishnoi Gang as a terrorist entity. Violence, terror, and the intimidation of communities will never be tolerated in Canada,” Anandasangaree stated in a post on X. With this designation, any assets, property, or funds owned by the gang in Canada can be frozen or seized. It is now a criminal offense for anyone in Canada or for Canadians abroad to knowingly deal with, finance, or provide services that benefit the group.

The decision follows months of mounting pressure from provincial governments in British Columbia and Alberta, which had formally urged the federal government to take this step amid a rise in violent crime linked to the gang. The Bishnoi Gang, which originated in northern India, has been implicated in numerous high-profile crimes, including contract killings and drug trafficking, with its leader Lawrence Bishnoi reportedly orchestrating operations from inside an Indian prison.

The listing also comes against a backdrop of severe diplomatic tension between Ottawa and New Delhi. Last year, Canadian authorities accused the Indian government of using the Bishnoi Gang to carry out the assassinations of Sikh separatists on Canadian soil—a claim India has vehemently rejected. While the new designation gives Canadian authorities more tools to prosecute the gang’s criminal activities, it adds another complex layer to the fraught relationship between the two countries