Tensions between Canada and India have escalated dramatically following accusations by Canadian police that the Indian government has been working with one of India’s most notorious criminal networks, led by mob boss Lawrence Bishnoi, to target and assassinate dissidents on Canadian soil. These explosive claims have ignited a diplomatic row, straining relations between the two countries.
The allegations center around the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh activist, who was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Vancouver in June 2023. Canadian police claim they have uncovered evidence that Indian diplomats were involved in the targeted killing, with India’s top diplomat, Sanjay Verma, allegedly playing a key role. Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly has linked five other Indian officials to the case, citing “ample, clear, and concrete evidence” identifying them as persons of interest.
These accusations have sparked a major diplomatic fallout, with both nations expelling each other’s top diplomats. The US has also weighed in, calling on India to cooperate with Canada’s investigation. Despite the international pressure, India has vehemently denied the allegations, dismissing them as “ludicrous” and politically motivated. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has framed the accusations as part of a broader agenda by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, aimed at deflecting attention from internal issues.
The Lawrence Bishnoi Connection
Among the most shocking claims is that Indian agents collaborated with the criminal syndicate run by Lawrence Bishnoi, a notorious Indian gangster currently imprisoned since 2014. Bishnoi’s criminal empire has been linked to several high-profile assassinations, including the recent murder of a Mumbai politician. Canadian police assert that Bishnoi’s gang, which has a growing presence in Canada due to the sizable Indian Sikh diaspora, was instrumental in carrying out Nijjar’s assassination and other violent acts targeting pro-Khalistani activists in Canada.
The Bishnoi gang has previously taken responsibility for the killing of Sukhdool Singh Gill, another alleged pro-Khalistani figure, in Winnipeg in 2023. Canadian investigators now believe that this killing, too, was orchestrated by Indian agents in collaboration with the gang.
Canadian police assistant commissioner Brigitte Gauvin, speaking at a press conference, noted that organized crime elements were being used by the Indian government to target specific individuals. “We believe the Bishnoi group is connected to the agents of the government of India,” she said.
India’s Alleged Transnational Violence Campaign
The accusations have intensified mounting concerns that India, under Prime Minister Modi, has embarked on a campaign of transnational violence, targeting dissidents and individuals it perceives as threats to the state. Trudeau called this a “monumental mistake,” accusing India of using its diplomats and organized crime networks to intimidate and murder Canadian citizens.
Reports from sources in Canadian intelligence, cited by major news outlets like the Washington Post, claim that India’s involvement in these attacks was authorized at the highest levels of government, including Home Minister Amit Shah, Modi’s close confidant. Further, these claims were reportedly presented to India’s national security adviser, Ajit Doval, during a secret meeting, though Doval denied any role in the violence.
The alleged Indian-backed assassinations are said to focus on the Sikh diaspora, particularly pro-Khalistani elements advocating for an independent Sikh state. The issue of Khalistan has been a long-standing point of tension between India and its Sikh diaspora, particularly in countries like Canada where the movement has significant support.
The Diplomatic Fallout
As the situation spirals, both Canada and India have expelled senior diplomats, and discussions between the two governments have become increasingly fraught. Canadian officials have accused India of refusing to cooperate with their investigation and of shielding the diplomats implicated in the violence by invoking diplomatic immunity.
The US has also expressed concern, especially after its own investigators foiled an attempted assassination of Sikh activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, allegedly orchestrated by Indian agents. While India has promised to conduct an internal inquiry, skepticism remains high.
The US State Department has urged India to cooperate fully with Canada’s investigation. A statement from Washington indicated that Indian officials would soon be traveling to the US to discuss the case, though India has so far shown reluctance to engage meaningfully with the allegations.
The Growing Role of Organized Crime
The role of criminal networks like the Bishnoi gang in facilitating international violence is raising alarm. Despite being imprisoned, Lawrence Bishnoi has continued to wield influence over his gang’s operations. The group’s involvement in both domestic and international killings has highlighted the nexus between organized crime and political violence, raising questions about how these criminal syndicates continue to operate even when their leaders are incarcerated.
With India facing increasing scrutiny over its alleged use of such networks for political ends, the spotlight is now on how both Canada and the US will navigate these complex allegations. The diplomatic crisis has only deepened, with no signs of resolution on the horizon.