Canada Accuses India Of Using Lawrence Bishnoi Gang To Target Pro-Khalistani Elements, But Gives No Evidence

Moments after India withdrew its diplomats from Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) accused New Delhi of direct involvement in ‘serious criminal activity’ on its soil.

Though Ottawa didn’t back its claims again with any evidence, it alleged that ‘agents’ of the Indian government in Ottawa are allegedly working with Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang to target pro-Khalistani elements.

The allegations surfaced at a time when the Lawrence Bishnoi gang is under law enforcement lens in India for its alleged involvement in the killing of former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Baba Siddique.

Addressing the media late Monday night, RCMP claimed that its probe into the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist shot dead in Canada last year, has revealed alleged links of the Indian government committing ‘violent’ acts in the North American country.

The presser was held after Canada accused Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma and other diplomats of being ‘persons of interest’ linked to the Nijjar murder investigation.

The Canadian government also expelled six Indian diplomats and linked them to an investigation into the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In response, India recalled its top envoy to Ottawa and expelled six Canadian diplomats from the country in a tit-for-tat action.

“Evidence also shows that a wide variety of entities in Canada and abroad have been used by agents of the Government of India to collect information. Some of these individuals and businesses were coerced and threatened into working for the Government of India. The information collected for the Government of India is then used to target members of the South Asian community,” the RCMP statement read.

Canada Uses ‘Bishnoi Gang’ For Old Charge

When asked if members of the Sikh community, in particular, were being targeted by the Indian agents, Brigitte Gauvin, Assistant Commissioner of the RCMP said that the South Indian community is being targeted by these groups but pro-Khalistani elements in Canada are there ‘specific target.’

“What we have seen is, from an RCMP perspective, they use organised crime elements. It has been publically attributed and claimed by one organised crime group in particular – Bishnoi Group. We believe that the group is connected to agents of the Government of India,” Gauvin said.

Canada said last year there were credible allegations that India’s government had links to the assassination in Surrey of ‘Sikh activist’ Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India denied the charges calling it ‘absurd and baseless.’

Trudeau Levels Same Charge

Following the RCMP presser, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed the media and claimed that ‘agents’ of the Indian government are allegedly involved in threatening public safety on its soil.

In the ongoing investigation linked to Nijjar’s killing, the Canadian PM accused the Indian government of ‘not cooperating’ despite repeated requests to work together in this case. The Indian government, however, has been charging Canada with making ‘baseless’ accusations without any evidence.

The ongoing diplomatic row between New Delhi and Ottawa was triggered when Canada levelled severe charges against the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats on Monday morning.

Responding to the claims, the Ministry of External Affairs released a scathing statement, saying that Canada did not share a “shred of evidence of India’s involvement in Nijjar’s killing” despite repeated requests and accused Trudeau of doing vote bank politics and not doing enough to tackle separatist elements on Canadian soil.

Canada Fails To Provide Evidence Again

After making allegations against the Indian diplomats, Canada put itself in a similar situation when it tried to establish the ‘Indian government’ connection to the assassination of Nijjar without any evidence.

When the Canadian government linked senior Indian diplomats to a probe into the murder of a Khalistani terrorist, many took a sharp jibe at Justin Trudeau-led government for failing to back their claims with any proof.

Taking to X, Canada-based journalist Daniel Bordman said, “Justin Trudeau again fails to provide compelling evidence to the public after escalating the tensions with India. Diplomats have been expelled and we are still in the “trust me bro” phase. This could end up costing Canada billions in trade. All to appease Jagmeet and the gang of Khalistani ministers.”

Reacting to the development, Michael Kugelman, Director of the South Asia Institute at Wilson Center, said, “Canada’s release of this statement is an extraordinary development: A rare case of Ottawa publicly disclosing info about its allegations against Delhi. The lack of evidence in the public domain is something Delhi has often cited while repeatedly rejecting Ottawa’s allegations.”

India expelled six Canadian diplomats, including Acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler, Deputy High Commissioner Patrick Hebert, and First Secretaries Marie Catherine Joly, Lan Ross David Trites, Adam James Chuipka, and Paula Orjuela. They have been given time till October 19 to leave India.