Bishnoi Gang Shoots At Kapil Sharma’s Café In Canada Weeks After Terror Tag

The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has once again struck in Canada, opening fire at comedian Kapil Sharma's café in Surrey on Thursday. The attack comes just weeks after Canada officially designated the gang as a terror organization, indicating the group's defiance despite global scrutiny.

Gurpreet Singh, alias Goldy Dhillon, who has already claimed responsibility for the previous attack on Kap's Café, took credit for this latest shooting as well. Dhillon, wanted by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) with a ₹10 lakh bounty on his head, is considered one of the gang's most active operatives abroad.

The gang's alleged motive stems from Kapil Sharma's close friendship with Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, whom Lawrence Bishnoi has long targeted over the 1998 blackbuck poaching case. The Bishnoi community is traditionally known for its reverence toward wildlife, but investigators believe the attacks are part of a broader extortion network rather than ideological retaliation. Lawrence Bishnoi himself remains imprisoned in Gujarat's Sabarmati Central Jail.

Canada's recent terror listing and its implications

On September 29, the Canadian government officially listed the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a "terror entity." Ottawa described it as a transnational criminal organization with operations spanning India and Canada, especially within diaspora-heavy regions. The move followed multiple reports linking the gang to attacks on pro-Khalistan figures and Sikh Canadians over the past few years.

India has repeatedly denied Canada's insinuations that it uses the Bishnoi gang to target anti-India extremists. Diplomatic relations between the two nations had already deteriorated after Canada accused India of orchestrating the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023. New Delhi rejected these claims, pointing instead to its long-standing extradition requests for Bishnoi gang members residing in Canada.

Canadian officials defend the terror tag

Canadian Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree stated, "Every person in Canada has the right to feel safe in their home and community. The Bishnoi Gang has been responsible for targeting specific communities through violence and intimidation. Listing this group gives us stronger tools to stop their crimes."

The government's statement added that with the Bishnoi gang's inclusion, there are now 88 listed terrorist entities under Canada's Criminal Code. The listing empowers authorities to seize or freeze assets belonging to the group, restrict financial activities, and block travel or recruitment efforts linked to its members. It also assists border officials in making admissibility decisions for individuals associated with the gang.

Bishnoi gang's growing footprint

The gang's violent presence in Canada has been escalating. In 2024, it claimed responsibility for firing incidents outside the homes of Punjabi singers AP Dhillon and Gippy Grewal. Investigators believe the gang's operations are part of a larger network stretching across India, the UAE, and North America, targeting celebrities and diaspora figures for extortion and influence.

Despite Canada's terror designation, the fresh attack on Kapil Sharma's café underscores the Bishnoi gang's continued reach and defiance, raising concerns over security and law enforcement effectiveness in curbing transnational organized crime.