Federal authorities in the US and Canada announced charges against 37 people as part of a multiyear investigation called Operation Hard Ball, which targeted murder-for-hire schemes, shootings, extortion, and drug trafficking. The agencies said they had dismantled leadership of a major Indian criminal organization, though seven fugitives in the US, two in India, and one in Europe remain at large.
The most prominent defendant is Lawrence Bishnoi, an imprisoned leader of an Indian criminal gang, who was charged with orchestrating the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023. Nijjar, a Sikh activist and Canadian citizen, was shot outside a temple in Canada where he served as president. Bishnoi is alleged to have directed the operation using contraband mobile phones and provided photos and addresses of the victim to facilitate the killing. Satinderjeet Singh, also known as Goldy Brar, was also charged for his involvement in the assassination and remains a fugitive in the US.
The killing strained diplomatic relations between Canada and India. Canadian officials previously alleged credible involvement by the Indian government in the murder, though Indian representatives have denied any foreign interference. Nijjar was a prominent figure in activism related to Khalistan, a proposed independent Sikh homeland. Sikh diaspora activism has been a longstanding source of tension between the two nations, with India repeatedly accusing Canada of harboring what it considers terrorists and extremists. Canada subsequently designated the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity.
Beyond the Nijjar case, authorities say Bishnoi and his associates engaged in kidnapping, arson, and other violent crimes across multiple countries. Law enforcement seized approximately 1,000 kilograms of cocaine and a dozen firearms in connection with the operation. Canadian officials characterized the charges as significant for public safety, noting that communities in Canada have experienced increases in shootings and extortions. The investigation also led to separate charges related to an attempted murder at the residence of an Indian actor and singer.
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