Canada has alleged that India is targeting pro-Khalistani elements through the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police alleged that India was targeting the South Asian community in Canada and using an organized crime group.

These allegations come at a time when the Bishnoi gang is under the ambit of the law in India for its alleged involvement in the murder of former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Baba Siddique.

“India is targeting the South Asian community, but it is specifically targeting pro-Khalistani elements in Canada. What we have seen, from the RCMP’s perspective, they are using organized crime elements. This has been publicly attributed and claimed by a particular organized crime group – Bishnoi Group We believe this group is linked to agents of the Indian government,” said Brigitte Gauvin, Assistant Commissioner, Federal Policing, National Security, Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

On October 14, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats after India announced the expulsion of six members of the Canadian High Commission in Delhi.

Hours earlier, India announced Canada’s withdrawal of its high commissioner and other “targeted diplomats and officials” after strongly rejecting Ottawa’s allegations linking the envoy to an investigation into the separatist’s killing of Khalistan Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Nijjar was shot and killed in Surrey, British Columbia in June 2023.

Relations between India and Canada came under strain following allegations by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in September last year of “potential” involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar’s assassination.

New Delhi had rejected Trudeau’s accusations, calling them “absurd.”