Canada declares Lawrence Bishnoi Gang a terrorist entity, assets to be frozen

The move grants law enforcement sweeping powers to freeze or seize any assets linked to the gang, including cash, vehicles, and properties, as well as criminalizes all financial dealings with the syndicate. Immigration officials can also deny entry to individuals suspected of being associated with a crime.

“Acts of violence and terror have no place in Canada, especially those that target specific communities to create a climate of fear and intimidation,” a government statement said.

The Bishnoi gang, long tied to extortion, arms and drug trafficking, and multiple contract killings in India and abroad, has been linked to several high-profile assassinations, including the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala in 2022, Rajput leader Sukhdev Gogamedi in 2023, and Maharashtra politician Baba Siddique in 2024.

The group was also implicated in a gun attack near actor Salman Khan’s residence earlier this year.

The gang was also linked to the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and pro-Khalistani figure, which plunged India-Canada relations into crisis after then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused New Delhi of involvement, which India strongly denied.

The terrorist designation follows mounting political pressure within Canada.

Conservative MP Frank Caputo, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, BC Premier David Eby, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, and Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke had all urged Ottawa to act, citing threats to Canadian citizens and the Punjabi diaspora.

Caputo said the Bishnoi network engaged in “assassinations and extortion for political, religious, and ideological reasons,” and warned of its growing reach in Canada.

The ruling also marks a thaw in strained India-Canada ties, with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government seeking to repair relations frayed under Trudeau.

Earlier this year, Ottawa restored a full diplomatic posting to New Delhi for the first time since the Nijjar row.

With the designation, Canadian citizens and organizations are now barred from providing any financial or material support to the Bishnoi gang. Offenders face stiff penalties, including imprisonment.