US federal prosecutors have charged alleged gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar in connection with the 2023 killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, adding a new dimension to the high-profile murder investigation.
According to the indictment, the two men allegedly directed and coordinated a criminal conspiracy that led to Nijjar’s fatal shooting outside a gurdwara in Surrey in June 2023. US authorities allege the conspiracy involved organised criminal networks operating across international borders.
The charges form part of a broader investigation into transnational organised crime and alleged murder-for-hire activities. While the indictment has been filed in the United States, Canadian authorities continue to investigate the killing, which had already strained diplomatic ties between India and Canada.
The development comes months after US prosecutors accused an Indian national of involvement in a separate alleged plot to assassinate another Sikh separatist on American soil. Investigators are examining possible links between organised crime groups and cross-border criminal operations.
Neither Bishnoi nor Brar is in US custody. The charges are expected to strengthen cooperation between international law enforcement agencies as efforts continue to trace those allegedly involved in the conspiracy.
The killing of Nijjar sparked global attention and heightened diplomatic tensions. With the latest indictment, the focus has shifted further towards the alleged role of organised criminal networks, even as investigations continue in multiple jurisdictions.
