Ottawa: Canada has made fresh accusations against India, claiming that it is involved in “serious criminal activity” on Canadian soil and is working with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to target pro-Khalistani individuals. These allegations come at a time when Bishnoi, a notorious gangster, is making headlines for his alleged involvement in the murder of Baba Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister, who was killed in Mumbai last week.
Brigitte Gauvin, Assistant Commissioner of Federal Policing, National Security, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), stated that India is specifically targeting the pro-Khalistani community in Canada through organised crime groups, with the Bishnoi gang playing a key role. Gauvin remarked, “From an RCMP perspective, we have observed India using organised crime elements, particularly the Bishnoi Group, which we believe is linked to agents of the Indian government.”
Despite being incarcerated in Gujarat’s Sabarmati jail on drug charges, Bishnoi has been accused of orchestrating high-profile murders, including Punjabi singer Siddhu Moosewala in 2022 and Karni Sena chief Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi in 2023. He is also allegedly connected to firing incidents outside the residences of Canadian singers A P Dhillon and Gippy Garewal.
On Monday, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, citing their involvement in a targeted campaign against Canadian citizens. This came soon after India announced the expulsion of six Canadian High Commission members in Delhi. Tensions between the two countries have escalated since last year when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian agents of being involved in the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada.
