Overview

• On August 11–12, Conservative public safety critic Frank Caputo formally urged Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree to designate the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organization under Canada’s Criminal Code.
• Premier David Eby, Premier Danielle Smith and the mayors of Surrey and Brampton previously pressed Ottawa for the listing to target a surge in extortion and intimidation of South Asian communities.
• The gang is suspected of orchestrating extortion threats across British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario and has claimed responsibility on social media for shootings at Kapil Sharma’s Surrey café.
• Advocates of a terror listing say it would authorize asset freezes, criminal liability for membership and additional investigative resources to disrupt the syndicate.
• RCMP, Surrey and Abbotsford police continue investigations into extortion, property damage and violent incidents as federal authorities assess the evidence amid Canada–India diplomatic sensitivities.