A series of deadly shootings targeting Indian-origin businessmen in Canada has sparked urgent calls for the federal government to declare the Lawrence Bishnoi gang a terrorist organisation. The group, originally from India, is accused of running a growing campaign of violence, extortion, and assassinations, with some officials alleging it operates with support from Indian intelligence.
The latest killing took place on May 14, 2025, when 51-year-old Harjit Singh Dhadda was shot dead outside his office in Mississauga, Ontario. Hours later, a Facebook post claimed responsibility on behalf of the Bishnoi gang. His death was quickly followed by two more fatal shootings, Satwinder Sharma in Surrey and MP Dhanoa in Brampton, all allegedly linked to the same network.
Community leaders say that while arrests have been made in some cases, the real masterminds remain untouched. Several Canadian politicians, including British Columbia Premier David Eby and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, have urged Ottawa to list the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist group. They say such a move would give police stronger powers to seize assets, block funding, and cooperate more effectively with global agencies like Interpol.
Alberta’s Public Safety Minister, Mike Ellis, has claimed there is credible intelligence linking the gang to extortion and targeted attacks against Canada’s South Asian community. Some Canadian officials also allege the network is being used by Indian intelligence to silence critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi abroad, a claim India denies.
For families of victims, the fear is constant. Dhadda’s daughter says her father had received threats demanding C$500,000 before his murder. In another case, 73-year-old temple leader Satish Kumar says he was told to pay C$2 million or face death. His business properties were later shot at, and the attackers sent him video footage of the damage.
Experts say the Bishnoi gang’s operations, including transnational assassinations, public claims of killings, and armed extortion, blur the line between organised crime and terrorism. While some warn that labeling a non-ideological gang as a terror group could set a risky precedent, others argue the designation is necessary to prevent further bloodshed.
Lawrence Bishnoi, 32, is currently in an Indian jail but is believed to control a vast network of shooters through encrypted communication. His gang gained global attention after the 2022 killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. In recent months, the group has also been linked to attacks targeting celebrities and businesses in Canada, including a shooting at a café owned by comedian Kapil Sharma.
If Canada designates the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity, authorities could freeze bank accounts, seize property, ban financial support, issue global arrest warrants, and impose travel bans on associates.
With gang-related killings making up almost half of all homicides in British Columbia last year, community members are calling for urgent action. Many fear that without swift measures, the violence will claim more lives.
