On a crisp spring morning in Brampton, Ontario, Harjit Singh Dhadda meticulously tied his traditional sage green turban before heading to his insurance office in Mississauga. Unbeknownst to him, it would be the last time his daughter, Gurleen, would see him alive. Upon reaching the office car park on May 14, two men confronted him and one opened fire, fleeing in a stolen Dodge Challenger. Harjit later succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.
Hours later, two men claimed responsibility for the murder on Facebook, identifying themselves as members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The gang is led by Indian national Lawrence Bishnoi, currently imprisoned in Gujarat’s Sabarmati Central Jail. This incident, along with subsequent shootings of other businessmen of Indian origin, has raised concerns about the expansion of the Bishnoi gang’s criminal activities into Canadian territory.
Political leaders in Canada are now pushing for the federal government to declare the Bishnoi gang a terrorist organization, citing the need for enhanced powers to investigate and combat the gang’s activities. Supporting this call, officials argue that such a designation would provide the necessary tools to effectively investigate and dismantle the group.
However, concerns have been raised about the implications of designating the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organization. While clearly involved in criminal activities, the gang does not seem to have political or ideological objectives, which traditionally form the basis for such designations. This raises concerns about setting a dangerous precedent and the potential for political misuse in the future.
The Bishnoi gang is not an ordinary criminal syndicate, with allegations suggesting it acts as an asset for Indian intelligence agencies. This has led to diplomatic tensions between Canada and India, with Canadian officials accusing Indian agencies of orchestrating targeted assassinations of Sikh separatists, including Hardeep Singh Nijjar, whose killing brought this issue to global attention.
Harjit’s family and other victims have been left fearful and frustrated, with calls for further action against the gang. The South Asian community in areas like Surrey and Brampton have been campaigning for increased safety measures in response to the escalating violence. With gang-related homicides on the rise, there is a growing concern about the safety and security of the community.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2025/8/8/canada-murders-spark-calls-to-label-indias-bishnoi-gang-a-terror-group?traffic_source=rss
