Richmond, British Columbia councillor Kash Heed said in October 2024 that fear associated with the Bishnoi gang had affected parts of Canada’s South Asian diaspora for years. The former B.C. solicitor general and police chief spoke after the RCMP publicly alleged links between agents of the Indian government and violent criminal activity in Canada.
Claims require careful attribution
The RCMP alleged that Indian diplomats and consular officials gathered information about people in Canada and that some information was then used by criminal organizations, including a group associated with jailed Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. Canada expelled six Indian diplomats; India rejected the allegations and expelled Canadian diplomats.
These were grave government and police claims, not convictions against every person named in political statements. Reporting should distinguish verified criminal cases from intelligence assessments, ongoing investigations and allegations that have not been tested in court.
Extortion investigations in Canada
Police in Abbotsford said in 2023 that they were investigating extortion attempts targeting members of the South Asian business community and believed the incidents were connected. Similar reports emerged in Alberta and Ontario, often involving threats demanding money and, in some cases, gunfire at homes or businesses.
Heed said he knew of a businessperson who had paid millions of dollars after being threatened. That account illustrated the level of fear, but any individual loss or suspected connection still required police investigation and evidence.
Who is Lawrence Bishnoi?
Bishnoi has been held in India for years and Indian authorities have accused him of directing an extensive criminal network from custody. Members or associates of the network have been accused in India and abroad of extortion, targeted violence and the killing of Punjabi musician Sidhu Moose Wala.
Attribution is complicated because crimes can be claimed in a gang’s name, committed by loosely connected actors or falsely presented as part of a larger organization. Describing a “Bishnoi gang” connection should therefore rest on a police statement, court filing or other documented evidence—not social-media speculation.
Why diaspora communities were concerned
Targets described in Canadian cases were often business owners or people with family and commercial ties across borders. Criminals can exploit public information, messaging apps and fear for relatives overseas to apply pressure without being physically close to a victim.
The diplomatic dispute added a national-security dimension. It also risked encouraging broad suspicion of Indian Canadians, Sikhs, diplomats or political activists. Responsibility must remain individual and evidence-based; ethnicity, religion or a political view is not evidence of criminal activity.
How authorities and victims can respond
Police advise people who receive an extortion threat not to negotiate or transfer money before seeking help. Messages, phone numbers, envelopes, surveillance footage and transaction records should be preserved. An immediate threat warrants an emergency call, while non-urgent information can be reported through local police and relevant federal channels.
Victims may be reluctant to report because of shame, immigration concerns or fear of retaliation. Culturally informed liaison officers and confidential communication can improve cooperation, while public agencies should avoid revealing details that increase risk.
The accountability standard
Canada must investigate violence and foreign interference regardless of the suspected perpetrator. India is entitled to request evidence and due process, but diplomatic disagreement does not remove the need to protect residents or pursue credible leads.
Heed’s warning was that the fear did not begin with one week of headlines. A trustworthy account neither dismisses that experience nor declares unproven allegations settled. It records what police alleged, what India denied, what communities reported and what courts ultimately establish.
