Canada has formally designated Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code, a move that allows authorities to freeze assets, seize property, and prosecute members for offences linked to financing, recruitment and travel.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree announced the decision, describing the gang as a transnational criminal organisation that has fuelled fear in Canadian diaspora communities through murder, shootings, arson and extortion.
“Specific communities have been targeted for terror, violence and intimidation by the Bishnoi gang,” Anandasangaree said.
“Listing this group of criminal terrorists gives us more powerful and effective tools to confront and put a stop to their crimes.”
The gang, led by Lawrence Bishnoi from his Indian prison cell, has hundreds of members and is linked to high-profile killings in India, including the 2022 murder of Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moose Wala. Canadian police have alleged the group is also connected to targeted attacks and extortion in Canada.
Bishnoi was a close criminal associate of Canadian gangster Satinderjeet Singh aka Goldy Brar, but it is beleived that the two parted ways earlier this year. The fallout reportedly stemmed from Lawrence Bishnoi’s anger at Goldy Brar and Sachin Godara over their handling of his brother Anmol’s case in the United States.
India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) report revealed the Bishnoi and Brar’s criminal activities have links to banned Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and several other pro-Khalistan terrorist outfits based in Canada and the US.
In 2024, Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma said in an interview that Canada’s inaction against Khalistanis despite India’s repeated requests and information sharing has “emboldened the extremists.” “We have told them about the links between Goldy Brar and Lawrence Bishnoi. Goldy Brar openly runs extortion rackets in Canada,” he added.
“Khalistanis run a business in Canada. They are into extortion. They use the money to live a lavish life and work against India.”
In fact just last month, Goldy Dhillon, a member of the Bishnoi Gang, took responsibility for gunfire at actor-comedian Kapil Sharma’s newly opened Kaps Cafe in Surrey, marking the second shooting at the location in less than a month, the first occurring on 10 July 2025.
This announcement comes after the recent meeting of Canada’s National Security and Intelligence Advisor Nathalie G. Drouin with India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in New Delhi, marking a reset in bilateral ties after years of strain. The talks built on earlier discussions between Prime Ministers Mark Carney and Narendra Modi at the G7 Summit.
India’s MEA described the meeting as part of the regular security dialogue, with agreements to enhance counter-terrorism, intelligence exchanges and cooperation against organised crime. The engagement coincides with the restoration of full diplomatic representation, with new High Commissioners in place and follow-up consultations underway.
Canada now has 88 organisations designated as terrorist entities. With this listing, the Bishnoi gang joins Khalistani extremist organisations already banned in Canada under the Criminal Code, including Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). These groups have long been recognised by Canadian authorities for their involvement in violent extremism, highlighting Ottawa’s broader commitment to tackling both ideologically motivated and organised criminal threats.
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