The myth of Lawrence Bishnoi: Why Canadian police is wrong

Lawrence Bishnoi, India's gangster No. 1, has become an international figure. As the diplomatic crisis between India and Canada deepened after India recalled its diplomats from Canada and expelled Canadian diplomats, the Canadian police alleged ties between the Bishnoi gang and Indian government agents, accusing them of carrying out covert operations and violent activities in Canada. The allegation by the Canadian police came right after the murder of former Maharashtra minister Ziauddin ‘Baba’ Siddique in Mumbai, which is being linked to Bishnoi gang due to past links of suspects.

The Mumbai Police suspects Siddique was killed at the behest of Bishnoi after a purported Facebook post surfaced claiming "Jo Salman Khan aur Dawood gang ki help karega apna hisab-kitab laga ke rakhna (whoever helps Salman Khan and the Dawood gang, keep your accounts in order)".

The myth of Lawrence Bishnoi
Bishnoi hit the national news due to his pledge to kill Salman Khan for shooting a blackbuck in 1998 in Rajasthan. The local Bishnoi community revers the animal. Many glorify him for his stance against Khan. Now, Bishnoi is becoming a "nationalist" icon by challenging the might of Dawood Ibrahim gang which has been involved in terror incidents. He is also seen to be against Khalistani terrorists. He has a tattoo of Lord Hanuman imprinted on his right arm. For many on social media, all that gives his criminal enterprise a likable side. However, the reality is different from the myth of Bishnoi. He himself has had links with Khalistanis for long.

Bishnoi's Khalistani links
When the Canadian police alleged that Indian government agencies are carrying out covert operations and violent activities in Canada through the Bishnoi gang, it is just playing up the social media discourse on Bishnoi while utterly ignoring how India's security agencies see Bishnoi and his gang members.

Bishnoi and his gang members have been linked to Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), a banned Khalistani terror outfit and have also been accused by Indian security agencies of involvement in terror incidents.

Last year, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet in the terror-related activities of the Babbar Khalsa International and Bishnoi gang, naming four individuals. According to the NIA, Darmanjot Singh, one of the accused, is a key link between Canada-based absconder Lakhbir Singh alias Landa, an operative of the banned terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International and "Lawrence Bishnoi Terror & Crime Syndicate". Operating from the United States, Darmanjot has been actively involved in a range of criminal activities, including the smuggling of weapons, explosives, and drugs from Pakistan for use in India, said the agency.

Vikas Singh, another accused and associate of the Bishnoi gang, has been involved in providing sanctuary to different gang members involved in executing terror attacks and criminal operations across states, said the NIA. Notably, he provided a safe harbour to the gang members responsible for the RPG terror attack at the Punjab Police State Intelligence Headquarters in Mohali.

Another chargsheet last year by the NIA stated, "The Lawrence Bishnoi terror-crime-extortion syndicate was also responsible for providing killers for the RPG attack case on Punjab state intelligence headquarters at Mohali, which was carried out on directions of Harwinder Singh alias Rinda, a Pakistan-based BKI terrorist." Brar was found to have "direct links" with Lakhbir Singh alias Landa, another BKI operative working closely with Rinda, it said. Landa is also an accused in the Mohali RPG attack, as well as the December, 2022 RPG attack on police station Sirhali in the Tarn Taran district of Punjab.

The chargsheet also named Bishnoi's close associate Canada-based Goldy Brar, who is an accused in the killing of Dera Sacha Sauda follower Pradeep Kumar at Faridkot in Punjab in November 2022.

The NIA said that besides having links with conspirators in Pakistan, the accused were also in contact with pro-Khalistan elements based in Canada, Nepal and other countries," the NIA said.

The BKI was founded in the early 1980s in the wake of clashes between Nirankaris and Akhand Kirtanis on April 13, 1978 in Amritsar that had left 13 people dead, including the then chief of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha, Fauja Singh. BKI, designated an international terrorist organisation by India, the US, UK, Canada, the European Union and Japan, aims to create an independent Khalistan through violent means. Pakistan-based Wadhawa Singh, alias Chacha, alias Babbar, is the current chief of BKI. He is assisted by Pakistan-based designated terrorist Harwinder Singh Sandhu, alias Rinda, seen as the main conspirator and recruiter for BKI.

Bishnoi operates in Canada through Goldy Brar, the primary suspect in the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. In January, the Ministry of Home Affairs had designated Brar alias Satinderjit Singh as a terrorist under the anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The government notification linked Brar to BKI.

Ironically, Canadian police has blamed Indian agencies for operating through Bishnoi gang but had refused to deport Bishnoi gang member Goldy Brar. In recent years, Canada has ignored several requests made by Indian security agencies to get gangsters and terrorists deported.