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Canada officially listed the Bishnoi Gang as a terrorist entity, citing its activities targeting “specific communities to create a climate of fear and intimidation”.
A file photo of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi (PTI)
The Canadian government on Monday declared the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a “terrorist entity” under the country’s Criminal Code, linking it to acts of violence and terror that have targeted specific communities and created an atmosphere of fear.
“Every person in Canada has the right to feel safe in their home and community, and as a government, it is our fundamental responsibility to protect them. Specific communities have been targeted for terror, violence and intimidation by the Bishnoi Gang,” said Canada’s Minister of Public Safety, Gary Anandasangaree, in an official statement.
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The Lawrence Bishnoi gang is a well-known organised crime syndicate operating across North India, particularly in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi. As per Canadian laws, a terrorist listing means any property, vehicles or money owned by the group in Canada can be seized, and they can be prosecuted for terrorist offences.
Politicians from all parties had been calling on the Canadian government to declare the Lawrence Bishnoi gang a terrorist organisation. In August, Federal Conservatives sought for the terror label on the gang, citing their involvement in a surge of extortion threats in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario that have terrified the South Asian community.
Who Is Lawrence Bishnoi?
Bishnoi is a 31-year-old gangster whose notorious criminal gang remains active despite his imprisonment since 2014. He is the son of an affluent agriculturist from the Dhattaranwali village in Punjab’s Ferzopur district, and later became active in student politics during his college education before entering a life of crime.
The first criminal charges against him were framed in April 2010 for attempted murder, followed by another FIR for trespass in April 2010. In February 2011, a case of assault and robbery of a cell phone was registered against him. All three cases were related to student politics.
Bishnoi has been linked to multiple criminal cases, with over two dozen registered against him, including murders of political leaders and extortion. His gang also ventured into liquor dealing and arms smuggling, often providing protection to murderers. He was arrested during an encounter with Rajasthan Police in 2014 and has been behind bars since.
How Does His Gang Operate?
Despite Bishnoi’s imprisonment, Indian security agencies have found that most of the violent acts in different parts of the country have been planned by him inside jail and executed by an organised network of operatives based in India and abroad.
His gang is known to operate with more than 700 shooters across five states, with international connections as well, according to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The gang recruits young individuals, often enticing them with a promise of emigration to Western countries, such as Canada, through social media.
Bishnoi’s close associates are Goldy Brar, who manages ground-level activities and communication with shooters, and his brother Anmol Bishnoi. He also has strong alliances with pro-Khalistan groups, including the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).
Cases Related To Bishnoi Gang
The Bishnoi gang attracted national attention following the brutal murder of Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moose Wala in 2022. The Bishnoi gang operations have also apparently reached Canadian territory, with the police accusing the gang of targeting pro-Khalistan activities.
- Sidhu Moose Wala’s Murder: Bishnoi and Goldy Brar are accused of having orchestrated the murder of singer-politician Sidhu Moose Wala, who was shot dead on May 29, 2022, by unidentified assailants in Punjab’s Mansa district.
- Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi’s Murder: In December 2023, a right-wing leader, Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi was shot dead in his Jaipur home. Rohit Godara, a member of Bishnoi gang, claimed responsibility for the killing on social media.
- Baba Siddique’s Murder: The Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique, 66, in Mumbai’s posh Bandra area last year. Siddique, a three-time MLA and former minister in Maharashtra, was known for his closeness with several Bollywood celebrities. The suspects said they belonged to the Bishnoi gang.
- Feud with Salman Khan: Bishnoi’s most prominent case is his feud with Bollywood actor Salman Khan, who was accused of hunting and killing two blackbucks in Rajasthan in 1998. The Bishnoi community considers the species sacred, and Lawrence has threatened to kill Khan on several occasions. In April 2024, gunshots were fired outside actor Salman Khan’s residence in Bandra and the suspects confessed to their link to the Bishnoi gang.
- Kapil Sharma Cafe Shooting: The gang claimed responsibility for the shooting at comedian Kapil Sharma’s cafe in Surrey, Canada, in August. A gang member claimed the attack was done due to the comedian’s close proximity with Salman Khan.
Apart from these cases, Bishnoi and his gang members have been booked for numerous cases of extortion, arson, robbery, murder and contract killing. The NIA in 2023 filed a chargesheet against Bishnoi and Goldy Brar for operating a terror nexus with the proscribed Babbar Khalsa and other pro-Khalistan terrorist outfits.
In December 2023, Canadian police linked the Bishnoi gang to extortion targeting affluent members of the South Asian community in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Police in Ontario and Alberta have made similar claims, according to CTV News.
About the Author
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international…Read More
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international… Read More
Ottawa, Canada
September 29, 2025, 19:43 IST
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