India-Canada Tensions Rise Again Over Links Between Lawrence Bishnoi Gang and Indian Government

Tensions between India and Canada, which had been decreasing, have once again escalated after Canada’s national police force, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), claimed in a secret report that the banned Lawrence Bishnoi gang—designated a terrorist organization in Canada—is carrying out criminal activities in Canada at the behest of the Indian government and is still expanding the scope of its operations in the country.

According to Canada’s Global News, the report mentions at least six instances of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang contacting the Indian government. The report states that the Bishnoi crime group is a violent criminal organization active in Canada and several other countries, continuously expanding its reach. This group uses violence to advance its criminal business, and there is clear evidence that it is operating on the instructions of the Indian government.

This report has emerged at a time when relations between Canada and India are moving toward improvement. In August 2025, both countries reappointed their High Commissioners to each other, marking a significant development after more than 10 months of tensions.

It is worth noting that Lawrence Bishnoi, who has been imprisoned in Gujarat’s Sabarmati Jail since 2015, is allegedly overseeing drug smuggling, money laundering, and contract killings from prison itself. The gang has a network of approximately 700 members in Canada, extending to North America, Europe, and other regions.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police claims that Indian officials are using criminal groups like the Bishnoi gang to target Khalistan supporters, particularly Sikh separatists. This includes references to the 2023 murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar and the murder of Sikh activist Sukhdool Singh in Winnipeg.

In September 2025, Canada designated the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organization and issued orders to seize its assets and block its funding.