OTTAWA — The Canadian government has formally designated the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity, a move that will criminalize any financial or material support for the group and allow authorities to freeze assets and seize property linked to it.
The decision comes after months of political pressure from both Conservative and NDP leaders, who argued the gang’s activities posed a threat to safety in Canada. The gang, led by Lawrence Bishnoi — who is believed to be orchestrating operations from inside an Indian prison — has been accused of coordinating murder plots and extortion schemes that targeted members of Canada’s Sikh diaspora, particularly those advocating for an independent Khalistan.
Last year, the RCMP alleged that India had used the Bishnoi network to carry out violent acts on Canadian soil, a claim New Delhi firmly denied. Indian officials insisted instead that they have been working with Ottawa to stem the gang’s financial flows into Canada.
While the listing strengthens the federal government’s legal tools, experts caution it may not be enough on its own. Wesley Wark, a senior fellow with the Centre for International Governance Innovation, has noted that Canada’s greater challenge lies in its limited capacity to collect and act on criminal intelligence.
Still, federal officials argue the move sends a clear signal that Canada is cracking down on transnational crime targeting diaspora communities. The designation, they say, is an important step in protecting Canadians from intimidation and violence linked to organized networks abroad.