U.S. Charges Lawrence Bishnoi Group in 2023 Canada Killing but Does Not Charge Indian Officials

Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles announced criminal charges on Tuesday against Lawrence Bishnoi and eight associates of the Bishnoi organized criminal group, tying them to the June 18, 2023 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, CBS News reported.

The indictment accuses Bishnoi and another defendant of ordering the killing. Two unnamed co-conspirators allegedly pulled the trigger near a Sikh temple.

Bishnoi took responsibility for the act, the document states. Bishnoi was arrested by Indian authorities in 2015 and has remained in custody there since. The indictment says he used contraband cellphones and VoIP devices from jail to direct political assassinations, murders, extortions, kidnappings, drug trafficking, human smuggling and other crimes worldwide.

Satinderjit Singh Brar, a childhood friend of Bishnoi, allegedly directed the group's North American operations and is accused of ordering the Nijjar assassination. Bishnoi, Brar and seven other defendants face charges including racketeering, extortion and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

On November 25, 2023, Bishnoi posted on Facebook claiming responsibility for a November 24 shooting at the Vancouver residence of a prominent Indian actor and singer, warning in Punjabi that no one could save the target from the group.

Shortly after the Nijjar murder, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun was targeted for assassination in New York City, but the plot was thwarted by the FBI. Canadian and American authorities have alleged both the Nijjar killing and the Pannun attempt were ordered at the behest of the Indian government.