U.S. prosecutors have charged an alleged Indian gangster and several associates in connection with the 2023 killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C., a case that has remained at the centre of tensions between Canada and India.
Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles say Lawrence Bishnoi and Satinderjeet “Goldy Brar” Singh are accused of ordering Nijjar’s killing as part of a broader criminal network tied to targeted violence, extortion, and drug trafficking. Authorities say the arrests and charges stem from a years-long investigation into India-based organized crime groups with operations stretching across Canada, the U.S., and Europe.
Nijjar, 45, was shot and killed in June 2023 while inside his vehicle outside Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey. He was a prominent advocate for Khalistan, a proposed independent Sikh homeland in India’s Punjab region.
In total, 37 defendants have been charged across three indictments unsealed Tuesday. Prosecutors allege Bishnoi, Brar, and others were involved in a wider network that targeted community leaders and carried out extortion attempts.
The Nijjar killing sparked a major diplomatic dispute between Canada and India. In 2024, four Indian nationals were charged in Canada in connection with the killing and are still awaiting trial. Last year, Canada also listed the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity.
(Source: BBC News)
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