The Lawrence Bishnoi gang, one of India’s most feared organised crime networks, is making headlines in Canada after a series of violent incidents and extortion threats rocked South Asian communities in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario. Recent attacks — including two shootings at comedian Kapil Sharma’s café in Surrey, BC — have intensified calls for Ottawa to classify the gang as a terrorist organisation.
A Gang Leader Running Operations From Prison
The gang is led by Bal Karan Brar, better known as Lawrence Bishnoi, born on February 12, 1993, in Fazilka, Punjab, India. Despite being behind bars for the last decade, Bishnoi has built and maintained a vast criminal empire spanning multiple continents.
From inside prison, he is alleged to have ordered high-profile assassinations, targeted shootings at celebrities’ homes, and orchestrated international extortion rackets. Law enforcement agencies in India and abroad believe that more than 700 shooters are ready to act on his signal — with a significant portion based in Punjab, Haryana, and increasingly, overseas.
The Canadian Connection
Bishnoi’s network has strong links in Canada, particularly through his key associate Goldy Brar, who is believed to be based in the country. Brar, along with other operatives, has been implicated in the May 2022 assassination of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala, as well as several other high-profile attacks in India.
In recent weeks, Canadian authorities have been alerted to the gang’s growing activity:
- July 10, 2025 – Kap’s Café in Surrey, BC, owned by Kapil Sharma, was targeted in a shooting.
- August 8, 2025 – The café was attacked again, with multiple gunshots fired in the early hours. No injuries were reported.
- Social media posts allegedly from gangster Goldy Dhillon, claiming affiliation with the Bishnoi gang, took responsibility for the attacks.
The incidents have left the South Asian community shaken, raising fears that gang violence from India is spilling onto Canadian soil.
Political Calls for Action in Canada
The spate of shootings has prompted BC Premier David Eby, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, and the mayors of Surrey and Brampton to urge the federal government to take strong measures.
Conservative public safety critic Frank Caputo, a former Crown prosecutor, told Global News that the Bishnoi gang’s activities meet the Criminal Code’s definition of a terrorist organisation.
“Given the terror they are imposing on the South Asian community… they do meet the definition,” Caputo said, adding that such a designation would allow authorities to seize property, freeze bank accounts, and impose harsher penalties.
A Criminal Empire Built on Recruitment and Fear
Bishnoi’s gang rose to power in India through extortion, targeted killings, and smuggling. Recruitment often begins inside jails, where small-time offenders are indoctrinated and promised money, status, and protection.
His network operates internationally — including in Canada, USA, and UAE — using encrypted apps, VoIP calls, and untraceable “Dabba” communication technology to evade monitoring.
Recruitment: The Jail-to-Gang Pipeline
Despite Lawrence Bishnoi’s incarceration, his gang continues to grow — largely due to a recruitment pipeline inside Indian prisons. Many gang members meet for the first time while serving time for smaller crimes, only to be brainwashed and lured into the syndicate with promises of money and power.
Some notable cases include:
- Gurmail Singh – From Haryana; met a Bishnoi operative in jail and later helped in the Baba Siddique murder.
- Jishaan Akhtar – Conducted surveillance for Baba Siddique’s killing; met Vikram Singh Brar in prison.
- Naveen Balyaan – Linked to a Delhi gym owner’s murder; recruited behind bars.
- Vishal alias Kaalu – Shooter in Salman Khan house firing; recruited in jail.
- Priya Vrat Foji – Fired first shot in Moose Wala killing; ex-Army; joined gang in prison.
- Ankit Sirsa – Youngest accused in Moose Wala case; recruited by Monu Dagar while incarcerated.
High-Profile Crimes Linked to the Bishnoi Gang
The gang has claimed responsibility for a string of violent incidents in recent years, including:
- Sidhu Moose Wala murder (May 2022) – Shot dead with AK-47s in Punjab.
- Firing at Salman Khan’s Mumbai home (April 2024).
- Killing of NCP leader Baba Siddique (October 2024).
- Multiple shootings in Canada in 2023–2025, including the latest Surrey café attacks.
What’s Next?
The situation raises a difficult question for Canada: How to tackle transnational organised crime networks that operate across borders while exploiting local vulnerabilities?
Experts are divided. Some believe strict law enforcement and harsher penalties are the only way to deter such groups. Others argue for community-driven programs, education, and outreach to prevent at-risk youth from being lured into gang activity.
For now, the Bishnoi gang’s name continues to echo in both Indian and Canadian headlines — a reminder that in today’s interconnected world, criminal empires can span oceans, and prison walls are no guarantee of containment.
Public Safety Reminder:
Police urge community members to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity. In Surrey, tips can be shared anonymously via Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
