US charges Indian criminal gang leader with organising murder of Canadian Sikh activist

US authorities have charged Lawrence Bishnoi, an imprisoned Indian criminal gang leader, and his associate Satinderjeet Singh with orchestrating the 2023 assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. Bishnoi allegedly directed the killing from an Indian jail using smuggled cellphones. This indictment is part of a larger law enforcement operation targeting three Indian international crime syndicates involved in various illicit activities. The assassination of Nijjar, a prominent advocate for an independent Sikh homeland, had previously strained diplomatic relations between Canada and India. Authorities are still searching for several fugitives connected to these syndicates.

Authorities have filed charges against Lawrence Bishnoi, the leader of an Indian criminal group, in connection with the 2023 assassination of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. This killing had previously strained diplomatic ties between Canada and India. The charges are part of a large-scale law enforcement operation involving U.S., Canadian, and European agencies, which resulted in charges against 37 defendants linked to three Indian international crime syndicates. These groups are accused of various criminal activities, including kidnappings, racketeering, drug trafficking, and murder. Bishnoi is in custody, while his alleged accomplice, Satinderjeet Singh, remains at large. The operation highlights international cooperation in dismantling transnational criminal organizations.