The Royal Canadian Mounted Police alleged that the Bishnoi gang is connected to the “agents” of the Indian government, which is targeting the South Asian community specifically "pro-Khalistani elements" in the country.
The remarks were made during a press conference by RCMP Commissioner Mike Duhene and his deputy, Brigitte Gauvin in Ottawa on Monday, hours after India announced the expulsion of six members of the Canadian high commission in Delhi. “What we have seen, from an RCMP perspective, is that they use organised crime elements," she added.
"It has been publicly attributed and claimed by one organised crime group in particular which is the Bishnoi group here in Canada. We believe the group is connected to agents of the Government of India."
However, investigation agencies in India have linked Lawrence Bishnoi to several crimes in India. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has named him in high-profile cases, including smuggling of arms from Pakistan.
The NIA had claimed that Bishnoi was running an extortion syndicate with Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar, who has close links with pro-Khalistan terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).
Bishnoi has been allegedly operating his terror-crime syndicate from jails in India wherever he has been lodged over the years. The RCMP's comments came on a day India expelled six Canadian diplomats on Monday and announced that it is withdrawing its High Commissioner in Canada, after dismissing Ottawa's allegations linking the envoy to a probe into the killing of Sikh extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Canada, however, said it has expelled six Indian diplomats.
India has been strongly rejecting Canada's charge of involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar's killing last year. The RCMP has been investigating the murder.
The remarks were made during a press conference by RCMP Commissioner Mike Duhene and his deputy, Brigitte Gauvin in Ottawa on Monday, hours after India announced the expulsion of six members of the Canadian high commission in Delhi. “What we have seen, from an RCMP perspective, is that they use organised crime elements," she added.
"It has been publicly attributed and claimed by one organised crime group in particular which is the Bishnoi group here in Canada. We believe the group is connected to agents of the Government of India."
However, investigation agencies in India have linked Lawrence Bishnoi to several crimes in India. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has named him in high-profile cases, including smuggling of arms from Pakistan.
The NIA had claimed that Bishnoi was running an extortion syndicate with Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar, who has close links with pro-Khalistan terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).
Bishnoi has been allegedly operating his terror-crime syndicate from jails in India wherever he has been lodged over the years. The RCMP's comments came on a day India expelled six Canadian diplomats on Monday and announced that it is withdrawing its High Commissioner in Canada, after dismissing Ottawa's allegations linking the envoy to a probe into the killing of Sikh extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Canada, however, said it has expelled six Indian diplomats.
India has been strongly rejecting Canada's charge of involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar's killing last year. The RCMP has been investigating the murder.