Two shootings in Calgary connected to Indian gang responsible for extortions in B.C.
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The gang's growing influence has now spilled into Calgary with two possibly connected shootings within four days. A video circulating on social media shows a group of men shooting at the Dreamers nightclub on 10th Avenue, S.W., on July 21, the responsibility of which has been claimed by associates of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
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The eponymous gang, whose leader is currently imprisoned in India, gained prominence in North America following a few high-profile cases, including alleged links to the 2024 murder of the Khalistan leader Harjit Singh Njjar, who the Canadian government has said was killed at the behest of the Indian government.
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So far, no credible evidence has been provided by Canada for the latter accusation.
The gang was also behind the killing of Sidhu Moose Wala, who was shot in India but also had ties to Canada, and a Mumbai-based politician. A prominent Bollywood star is also a target of the organized crime group. Most recently, Surrey has been home to a string of extortion attempts that have sparked fear in the community.
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In June, a businessman in Surrey who ran a workplace supply company was shot dead after two men engaged him in conversation. The motivation and the ties to the group remain unclear; however, a man named Goldy Dhillon, who pledged allegiance to Lawrence Bishnoi, claimed responsibility for the attack in a Facebook post.
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Several prominent community members in Surrey, including Satish Kumar, who serves as president of the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, have also been targets of extortion whom are being ordered to pay millions of dollars. Indian media have reported that extortion is a significant source of the gang's income.
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However, police in B.C. have been reluctant to link these cases to the gang. However, these incidents have caused political pressure. B.C. Premier David Eby has called on the federal government to classify the group as a terrorist organization.
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