Federal law enforcement agencies in the United States and Canada announced charges against 37 individuals connected to an Indian criminal organization as part of Operation Hard Ball, a multiyear investigation into murder-for-hire schemes, shootings, extortion, and drug trafficking. The operation resulted in charges against Lawrence Bishnoi, an imprisoned leader of a criminal gang based in India, who authorities allege directed the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar from a Delhi prison cell using smuggled mobile phones. Nijjar, a Sikh activist and Canadian citizen, was shot and killed outside a temple in Canada in 2023 where he served as president.
The investigation identified Satinderjeet Singh, also known as Goldy Brar, as a fugitive fugitive in the United States with an alleged role in Nijjar’s killing. Authorities said Bishnoi provided co-conspirators with photographs and address information to facilitate the assassination. The charges mark a significant development in a case that previously strained diplomatic relations between Canada and India when Canadian officials suggested government involvement in the killing. India’s government has denied involvement in foreign interference activities. Seven fugitives remain at large in the United States, two in India, and one in Europe.
The operation resulted in the seizure of approximately 1,000 kilograms of cocaine and a dozen firearms. Canadian law enforcement reported that communities in British Columbia, particularly Surrey, have experienced increased gang violence, with 131 extortion reports, 20 shooting incidents, and two arsons recorded in 2026. Officials characterized the charges as a significant moment for public safety across North America. The case is connected to broader questions about transnational organized crime operations and alleged targeting of Sikh diaspora activists by various actors. Canadian authorities also designated the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI