The Push to Declare Indian Gang a Terrorist Organization in Canada

Just days after a public safety forum addressing crime targeting South Asian business owners in Surrey, B.C., Premier David Eby has called for a gang based in India to be declared a terrorist organization in Canada.

Police have reported that members of the South Asian community are being extorted for cash under the threat of death or violence, with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang linked to some of these threats.

Over the past six months, there have been 10 extortion reports in Surrey alone, according to local police. Chief Const. Norm Lipinski mentioned that some of these investigations extend beyond borders.

Eby emphasized that this issue is not limited to British Columbia but is also prevalent in Alberta and Ontario, where Indian gangs are operating. He announced his intention to reach out to Prime Minister Mark Carney to request the terrorist designation for the gang, enabling law enforcement to utilize necessary tools for investigation.

In a similar move, the federal government has targeted seven criminal organizations involved in fentanyl trafficking, including cartels and street gangs. Among these are the Jalisco New Generation and Sinaloa cartels, two of Mexico’s most prominent organized crime groups.

Community members gathered in Surrey recently to discuss extortion and public safety concerns. Businessman Satish Kumar revealed that he has received threats demanding $2 million, and businesses he is associated with have been subjected to gunfire multiple times in recent weeks.

According to Canadian police sources, the Bishnoi gang is among several criminal enterprises in northern India that have expanded into North America in recent years. The gang’s founder, 32-year-old Lawrence Bishnoi, has been incarcerated in Indian prisons since 2014.

Indian media outlets have highlighted extortion as one of the gang’s primary sources of income, both domestically and internationally.