Daijiworld Media Network - Ottawa

Ottawa, Sep 29: In a decisive move aimed at safeguarding public safety, the Canadian government has officially designated the Bishnoi Gang, led by notorious Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, as a terrorist organisation under the country’s Criminal Code.

The announcement was made by Gary Anandasangaree, minister of Public Safety, who said the gang’s violent activities—including murder, shootings, arson, extortion, and intimidation—pose a direct threat to communities, particularly those with large South Asian diasporas.

“Acts of violence and terror have no place in Canada,” Anandasangaree said in a statement. “Listing this group of criminal terrorists gives us more powerful and effective tools to confront and put a stop to their crimes.”

With this designation, Canadian authorities can now freeze or seize any property, assets, or financial holdings linked to the gang. It is now a criminal offence for anyone in Canada—or Canadians abroad—to knowingly provide or deal with property or funds associated with the Bishnoi Gang. The listing also enables immigration and border officials to deny entry or deport individuals connected to the gang under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

The Canadian Ministry of Public Safety described the Bishnoi Gang as a transnational criminal network, primarily operating from India but with a growing presence in Canada. The group has allegedly been targeting diaspora communities, including prominent individuals, businesses, and cultural figures, in a campaign of fear and violence.

Canadian officials say the gang’s operations are particularly dangerous due to their strategy of instilling fear through extortion and high-profile attacks, creating an environment of insecurity within immigrant communities.

“Every person in Canada has the right to feel safe,” the Public Safety Minister added, stressing that the new designation empowers law enforcement, intelligence, and security agencies to act more effectively against the group.

The move comes amid rising concerns over transnational organized crime and its infiltration into Canadian cities, where diaspora communities have increasingly come under threat from criminal networks rooted overseas.