Canada Declares India’s Bishnoi Gang a Terrorist Organization

Ottawa,— The Canadian government has officially designated India’s Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organization, ordering the freezing of its bank accounts and the confiscation of its properties within Canada.

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree announced the decision, stating that the Bishnoi gang was responsible for spreading fear and intimidation within diaspora communities, and was linked to violent crimes, extortion, and contract killings.

Canadian authorities have alleged that the gang maintains strong ties with India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. They also accused the network of involvement in the assassination of Khalistan movement leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was gunned down in British Columbia in 2023 — a killing that has already strained Canada-India relations.

The Bishnoi gang has long been notorious in India and abroad. It is accused of orchestrating the 2022 murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala, as well as alleged involvement in the killing of Mumbai politician Baba Siddique. The gang’s criminal network reportedly spans South Asia, North America, and Europe.

The designation is expected to further escalate tensions between Ottawa and New Delhi, which have been locked in a diplomatic standoff since Nijjar’s killing. Indian officials have repeatedly denied any state involvement, but Canada’s latest move places renewed pressure on bilateral relations.