"Acts of violence and terror have no place in Canada": Bishnoi gang declared a terrorist organization 

OTTAWA: Canada has declared the gang of notorious criminal and gangster Lawrence Bishnoi a terrorist organization. The announcement was made by Canadian Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree. The move comes a month after Canadian MP Frank Caputo asked Anandasangaree to declare Bishnoi a terrorist.

The announcement will give Canadian law enforcement agencies the authority to take more stringent action against the criminal gang operating out of India. Under Canadian law, it is currently a criminal offence to knowingly deal with property owned or controlled by the Bishnoi group. It is also a criminal offence for anyone to provide property, directly or indirectly, with the knowledge that it will benefit or be used by the group.

In addition, immigration officials can deny entry to Canada to those suspected of belonging to the group. The group is involved in murders, shootings, arson and extortion, and has specifically targeted people of Indian descent, their businesses and cultural figures, according to a statement issued by the Canadian government. "Violence or terrorism will not be tolerated in Canada. In particular, attacks targeting certain groups of people to create fear and intimidation will be strongly opposed," the government said in a statement.

The major cases related to the Bishnoi gang include the murder of famous Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala (May 2022), the murder of Rajput leader Sukhdev Gogamedi (December 2023), the murder of Maharashtra political leader Baba Siddiqui (October 2024), and the shooting in front of the house of actor Salman Khan (April 2025).

The murder of Canadian citizen and Khalistan supporter Hardeep Singh Nijjar (June 2023) revealed that the Bishnoi group has international connections. The murder led to a deterioration in India-Canada diplomatic relations. Bishnoi had fallen out with Goldy Brar, the group's aide who was handling its affairs in Canada, last June.

Relations, which had deteriorated in the dispute following the Nijjar murder, began to improve after Justin Trudeau stepped down. With the arrival of the new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, Canada appointed a new diplomatic officer in India on August 1. The current important decision to declare Bishnoi a terrorist organization follows this.