US and Canadian authorities have charged 37 people linked to a notorious Indian criminal group, including gang leader Lawrence Bishnoi, who is accused of orchestrating the 2023 murder of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
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Key facts
- Lawrence Bishnoi, currently imprisoned in India, is accused of orchestrating the 2023 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
- Authorities charged 37 people as part of Operation Hard Ball, a multiyear federal investigation.
- The probe covered murder-for-hire plots, shootings, extortion and drug trafficking.
- Authorities are still searching for seven fugitives in the US, two in India and one in Europe.
- The case previously strained diplomatic relations between Canada and India.
US and Canadian authorities say they have “dismantled” the leadership of a notorious Indian criminal group, charging dozens of operatives accused of having “inflicted pain and cruelty on people, victims around the globe,” according to the Guardian. The charges include a high-profile murder in Canada that strained diplomatic relations between the two countries.
At a press conference on Tuesday, members of the FBI and Canada’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said the charges were the result of Operation Hard Ball, described as a multiyear federal investigation into murder-for-hire plots, shootings, extortion and drug trafficking.
In total, authorities said they had charged 37 people, some of whom were already in custody. Officials added that they are still searching for seven fugitives in the US, two in India and one in Europe.
At the center of the case is Lawrence Bishnoi, who is currently in prison in India. Bishnoi is accused of orchestrating the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh activist, in 2023.
According to the Guardian, the killing of Nijjar strained diplomatic relations between Canada and India, giving the criminal case significant international dimensions beyond the individual charges announced this week.
Why it matters
The charges connect an alleged international criminal network to a killing that damaged relations between Canada and India, two important democratic partners. The case highlights how domestic law enforcement in North America is increasingly grappling with transnational violence and murder-for-hire operations.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Lawrence Bishnoi?
Lawrence Bishnoi is an Indian criminal gang leader who is currently in prison in India. He is accused of orchestrating the 2023 assassination of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
How many people were charged?
Authorities charged 37 people as part of Operation Hard Ball, some of whom were already in custody. Seven fugitives are still being sought in the US, two in India and one in Europe.
What is Operation Hard Ball?
According to the Guardian, Operation Hard Ball is a multiyear federal investigation into murder-for-hire plots, shootings, extortion and drug trafficking connected to the Indian criminal group.
Timeline
- US charges Indian criminal gang leader with organising murder of Canadian Sikh activist
The Guardian World: Lawrence Bishnoi, who is in prison in India, is accused of orchestrating assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023 US and Canadian authorities say they have “dismantled” the leadership of a notorious Indian criminal group, charging dozens of operatives who have “inflicted pai