Amid a fresh diplomatic standoff between India and Canada, the Canada Police has alleged that “agents” of the Indian government were collaborating with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to spread terror on Canadian soil.
“It (India) is targeting South Asian community but they are specifically targeting pro-Khalistani elements in Canada…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 – the Bishnoi Group…We believe that the group is connected to agents of the Government of India,” Brigitte Gauvin, Assistant Commissioner of Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said at a press conference.
#WATCH | Ottawa, Ontario (Canada): “It (India) is targeting South Asian community but they are specifically targeting pro-Khalistani elements in Canada…What we have seen is, from an RCMP perspective, they use organised crime elements. It has been publically attributed and… pic.twitter.com/KYKQVSx7Ju
— ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2024
The allegations come 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. The gang has given multiple threat messages to actor Salman Khan and was also involved in the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala.
Bishnoi, 31, is a gangster from Punjab, and is currently lodged in the Sabarmati Central jail in Ahmedabad.
The Canada Police in a statement said, “The team has learned a significant amount of information about the breadth and depth of criminal activity orchestrated by agents of the Government of India, and consequential threats to the safety and security of Canadians and individuals living in Canada.”
It said that despite law enforcement action, “the harm has continued”. “We reached a point where we felt it was imperative to confront the Government of India and inform the public about some very serious findings that have been uncovered through our investigations. There is a violent extremism threat in Canada that Canada and India have been working on over the years. However, these threats are impacting Canada and India’s ability to collaborate,” the police statement read.
The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday announced the expelling of six Canadian diplomats including Acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler amid an escalating row over the investigation into the murder of pro-Khalistan Sikh radical Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The diplomats have been asked to leave India by or before 11:59 PM on October 19 (Saturday).
