OTTAWA: Canada has officially designated the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist group, accusing it of running a violent international network involved in organized crime and targeted killings.
Canadian officials say the gang has been responsible for extortion, intimidation, and contract killings directed at members of diaspora communities abroad.
Authorities have directly linked the group to the 2023 assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia, a case that has already fueled major tensions between Ottawa and New Delhi.
The Canadian government alleges that the Bishnoi gang maintains links with Indian state officials and has been used as a tool to target Sikh separatist voices outside India.
By adding the group to its list of terrorist entities, Canada now has expanded powers to freeze financial assets, seize property, restrict movements, and prosecute anyone providing support to the network under strict anti-terrorism laws.
Officials stressed that the decision is part of a broader effort to counter organized transnational crime and foreign-backed violence within Canadian borders.
The move also highlights the continuing diplomatic friction between Canada and India, particularly over allegations of Indian involvement in overseas operations against Sikh activists.
