Who is Lawrence Bishnoi? How a notorious mob boss became involved in the Canada-India dispute

Because diplomatic relations between them are tense India AND Canada following the murder of a Sikh separatist leader, attention is now turning to one of the South Asian country’s most notorious gangsters.

Earlier this month, Canadian police charged Lawrence Bishnoi with colluding with Indian government agents to kill and harass members of Canada’s Sikh diaspora. This follows the Prime Minister’s decision Justin Trudeaulast year’s allegations that New Delhi was involved in the murder of a Canadian citizen – claims India vehemently denies. In recent weeks, the Trudeau government has upped the ante, expulsion of India’s top diplomat in Canada after he refused to be interviewed in the case.

Bishnoi’s alleged involvement highlights what Canada says is the long arm of India’s criminal underworld and its ability to carry out violence far from home. According to India’s federal anti-terrorism watchdog, Bishnoi is in his 30s and heads “one of the most feared terrorist syndicates” in South Asia. His gang, described in Indian court files, numbers about 700 people and includes suspected fighters and drug traffickers from Canada, United States and Arab Emirates.

The Trudeau government says Bishnoi worked with Indian officials to target dissidents abroad, particularly Sikh activists living in Canada who support the creation of an ethno-religious homeland in India called Khalistan. Canada was investigating the Indian government’s involvement in the shooting last year Hardeep Singh Nijjara Canadian separatist activist, considered a terrorist by the Prime Minister Narendra Modigovernment. Delhi has repeatedly rejected allegations that officials were involved in the attack.

Bishnoi has been associated with Sikh militant groups in the past, which is ironic considering he is currently accused of attacking Canadians campaigning for Khalistan. He and his gang have strong links with Sikh separatist elements, some of which are active Pakistan– according to court documents. India’s federal counterterrorism watchdog also said that Bishnoi and his associates were involved in the 2016 prison break of a suspected Khalistan separatist and that in 2022 they attacked a police facility in the northern state of Punjab using sophisticated weapons, including propelled grenades rocket.