The U.S. Department of Justice has unsealed a sweeping indictment charging 24 individuals, including several British Columbia gangsters, with acts of violence and drug trafficking as part of a years-long investigation targeting India's Bishnoi gang and two other transnational crime groups.
Operation Hard Ball targets Indian crime syndicates
Announced on Tuesday, the charges stem from 'Operation Hard Ball,' a federal investigation into Indian crime syndicates involved in racketeering, targeted killings, shootings, extortion, and trafficking of bulk narcotics across international borders. The Justice Department stated that the impact of these crimes is especially felt in the Indian diaspora.
Among those charged are two members of the Bishnoi gang accused of orchestrating the June 18, 2023, murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Surrey, B.C.
Lawrence Bishnoi directs enterprise from prison
Lawrence Bishnoi, 33, who has been imprisoned in India for years, is alleged to have presided over a sweeping criminal enterprise spanning multiple continents. According to the news release, Bishnoi used contraband cellphones and Voice-over-Internet Protocol devices smuggled into his jail cell to direct political assassinations, murders, shootings, extortions, kidnappings, drug trafficking, human smuggling, and other crimes committed by the Bishnoi enterprise worldwide.
Bishnoi delegated lieutenants as regional leaders, including Satinderjeet Singh, known as Goldy Brar, and European leader Rohit Godara. The indictment states that Brar and Godara effectively spoke for Bishnoi and helped direct the actions of members and associates globally, including acts of violence in the United States and Canada.
Nijjar assassination and other violence
Bishnoi and Brar are specifically charged with ordering Nijjar's assassination, according to the indictment sworn in California. The indictment also notes that Bishnoi claimed responsibility for a separate shooting at the Vancouver residence of a prominent Indian actor and singer.
“Bishnoi, Brar, Godara, and others extorted victims via WhatsApp and other encrypted messaging applications by threatening violence against the victims or the victims’ families,” the indictment said. The gang also funded its activities through international drug trafficking and stealing drug shipments from rival gangs.
Bhagwanpuria and Dhanda groups also targeted
The investigation also targeted two other transnational crime groups: the Bhagwanpuria gang, led by Jaggu Bhagwanpuria of Punjab, and the Dhanda group, headed by Vancouver resident Ravinder Singh Dhanda. Like Bishnoi, Bhagwanpuria is in prison in India but is alleged to run a syndicate with members across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
The seven-count U.S. indictment against the Bhagwanpuria gang includes charges of operating a criminal enterprise engaged in murder-for-hire, drug trafficking, kidnappings, extortions, weapons trafficking, and other crimes worldwide, including in the United States and Canada.
