On July 7, 2026, authorities announced charges against Lawrence Bishnoi, 33, and his childhood friend Satinderjeet Singh for orchestrating the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a well-known Sikh independence activist. Nijjar was fatally shot outside a temple in Canada where he served as president in 2023.
The killing had previously strained diplomatic relations between Canada and India after then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cited "credible allegations" of Indian government involvement in Nijjar's death. Nijjar, 45 at the time of his death, was a leading figure in the movement to establish an independent Sikh homeland called Khalistan and was organizing an unofficial referendum among the Sikh diaspora through Sikhs For Justice.
The charges are part of a large-scale law enforcement operation involving agencies from the United States, Canada, and Europe. The operation has arrested 37 defendants linked to three Indian international crime syndicates involved in kidnappings, racketeering, extortion, firearms dealing, drug trafficking, and murder. Authorities continue to search for seven fugitives in the U.S., two in India, and one in Europe.
Attorney Bill Essayli announced the charges at a news conference attended by officials from the Los Angeles Police Department, the FBI, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Patrick Grandy, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, stated that these groups have "fueled violence, fear and instability within the East Indian communities throughout California and abroad."
Additionally, at least one defendant is accused of organizing criminal activities while detained at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, though details on how communication was maintained remain unclear.
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