Canada Conservatives Demand Terrorist Designation For Lawrence Bishnoi Gang Amid Rising Violence

Ottawa (Canada): The Conservative Party of Canada urged the federal government to designate the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity, citing its alleged role in a surge of violent crimes across the country. The move follows a string of reported extortion threats, shootings, and intimidation targeting members of the South Asian community in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.

The gang has openly claimed responsibility for several violent incidents on social media, including the recent shootings at a café in Surrey, B.C., owned by Comedian and Bollywood actor Kapil Sharma. According to a Global News report quoting sources, the group is also suspected of involvement in the June 2023 killing of Surrey Gurdwara president and Khalistan independence activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

In a letter to Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, Conservative MP and Public Safety Critic Frank Caputo stressed that the Bishnoi gang’s “political shootings, extortion of South Asian Canadians, and extreme violence” meet the criteria for a terrorist designation. Caputo noted that members engage in these activities for political, religious, and ideological purposes and often flaunt them publicly to instill fear.

“The Bishnoi Gang’s activities lay the groundwork for listing it as a terrorist entity,” Caputo wrote. “The designation would give law enforcement and all levels of government the tools necessary to address the gang’s activities, including financial, criminal, and property sanctions,” he added.

The call for action echoes a July appeal by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who also pressed Ottawa to take a firm stance against the gang. Similar demands have been voiced by other political leaders as violent incidents linked to the group have drawn nationwide concern.

India's Repeated Calls For Crackdown On Bishnoi & Goldy Brar

India has repeatedly asked Canada to crack down on gangsters operating from Canadian soil, including Goldy Brar, a figure once closely tied to the Bishnoi network. Brar is wanted in India for his alleged role in the 2022 murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala. Reports suggest Brar and Bishnoi parted ways last month, but authorities say both remain major threats.

Lawrence Bishnoi, originally from Punjab, is currently imprisoned in Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad, India. Despite being behind bars, he has been accused of orchestrating killings, extortion rackets and cross-border criminal operations. Canadian officials have linked his network to ongoing gang wars, escalating fears among targeted communities and intensifying calls for Ottawa to take decisive action.