‘This Is Serious…': British Columbia Premier Urges Terror Tag For Lawrence Bishnoi Gang
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British Columbia Premier David Eby has alleged that gang has been linked to extortion and other crimes against South Asian community members in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario.
British Columbia Premier David Eby has mulled to ask Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to officially declare the Lawrence Bishnoi gang a 'terrorist organisation" in the country, adding that it had been linked to many crimes.
Days after the Indian community members held a public safety forum against extortion, Eby said he would write to Carney to formally designate the gang as a terrorist organisation amid a surge in violent extortion cases linked to the group across multiple Canadian provinces.
On Tuesday, the premier said he will write to about it 'to enable police to be able to use the necessary tools to investigate."
'This is a serious step," Eby said. 'We don't make this recommendation lightly, but this activity strikes at public confidence in the justice system, in our democracy."
He alleged that the gang had been linked to extortion and other crimes against South Asian community members in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. Citing a pattern of transnational organised crime, he said that existing law enforcement powers may fall short, and a terrorist designation would allow police to use enhanced legal tools.
'They need additional tools to respond to the fact that this is transnational organised crime," he said. 'This is more in the nature of terrorism than it is traditional crime. The community is terrified, and action needs to be taken."
As Eby stressed his demand, Balpreet Singh from World Sikh Organisation said he supported his request.
Eby pointed out that the federal government had previously added Mexican drug cartels to Canada's list of terrorist entities, an approach he believed is now warranted in this case.
Canada's police had earlier reported that South Asian community members are being extorted under threat of violence or death. Adding that Lawrence Bishnoi gang has been linked to some of those threats.
One victim, Satish Kumar who was the president of the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir Temple and owner of Reflections Banquet Halls, told the Vancouver Sun that he received a threat after refusing to pay $2 million to an extortionist.
Abbotsford police had earlier confirmed that some extortion cases targeting wealthy South Asians in the region were linked to the Bishnoi network.
National Investigation Agency (NIA) has described Lawrence Bishnoi as running a 'terror syndicate" from Indian jails, with operations extending to Canada through local associates. The Bishnoi gang has been under increased scrutiny since the killing of singer Sidhu Moosewala in 2022, which was allegedly orchestrated by its members.
Meanwhile, Elenore Sturko, B C Opposition public safety critic, opposed Eby's demand, saying that other issues need addressing.
Sturko asserted that she is unaware that police 'definitively" linked Bishnoi gang to extortion cases, further questioning the timing of Eby's comment.
'The police haven't come out and told my community that this gang is responsible for these incidents," she said. 'This is a very dramatic and headline-grabbing thing that the premier's done today, but I hope it doesn't distract from the fact that there are other issues at play here that need addressing," she added.
(With inputs from agencies)
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