The Lawrence Bishnoi gang, recently designated a terrorist entity by Canadian authorities, has escalated its transnational violence by claiming responsibility for the brazen murder of a prominent Indian-origin industrialist and a shooting outside a Punjabi singer's residence in British Columbia. In chilling social media posts, gang associate Goldy Dhillon detailed the attacks, underscoring the syndicate's grip on extortion rackets targeting the Punjabi diaspora.

Darshan Singh Sahasi, a 68-year-old philanthropist and president of Canam International—a leading textile recycling firm—was fatally shot on Monday morning outside his Abbotsford home. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the assailant lay in wait near Sahasi's parked silver Toyota Corolla before unleashing a barrage of gunfire as the victim entered the vehicle and fled the scene. First responders found Sahasi in critical condition; despite frantic efforts, he succumbed to his injuries en route to the hospital.

Sahasi, who immigrated from Punjab's Rajgarh village near Khanna in 1991, rose from modest labor jobs to transform a faltering recycling operation into a global enterprise. Described by local journalist Gurpreet Singh Sahota as a "gentle person," he was a pillar of the Abbotsford Punjabi community, funding schools and gurdwaras. The killing prompted immediate lockdowns at three nearby schools under "shelter-in-place" protocols, though no students were endangered. Community leaders decried the hit as a stark warning to Indian immigrants, demanding bolstered RCMP protection amid rising gang incursions.

Also Read: Lawrence Bishnoi Aide Jagdeep ‘Jagga’ Singh Nabbed Near US–Canada Border After Manhunt

In a separate post, Dhillon boasted of the gang's role in the Tuesday night firing at the home of Punjabi singer Channi Nattan, releasing a video purportedly capturing the gunfire. The attack stemmed from Nattan's alleged growing association with rival artist Sardar Khera, whom the gang has vowed to dismantle. "We have no personal animosity towards Channi Nattan," Dhillon stated, but issued a stark ultimatum: "Any singer who works with or maintains a relationship with Sardar Khera will be solely responsible for their own loss. We will continue to inflict significant damage upon him." No injuries were reported, but the incident has heightened fears within Canada's vibrant Punjabi music scene.

The dual claims surface just a day after Rajasthan's Anti-Gangster Task Force, in coordination with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, arrested key Bishnoi operative Jagdeep Singh alias Jagga at the U.S.-Canada border following a global manhunt. Indian and Canadian police are verifying the posts' authenticity while probing links to the gang's international network. The RCMP has released surveillance images of the getaway vehicle in Sahasi's case and tightened security for potential targets in the Indo-Canadian community.

The Lawrence Bishnoi syndicate, helmed by the imprisoned 32-year-old gangster from behind bars via encrypted channels, commands over 700 shooters worldwide and has been implicated in high-profile atrocities. These include the 2022 assassination of rapper Sidhu Moose Wala, death threats against Bollywood star Salman Khan, and alleged ties to pro-Khalistan operations. Canadian officials, citing the gang's role in assassinations like that of activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, froze assets and barred entry to suspects earlier this year. As investigations intensify, the attacks highlight the perilous intersection of organized crime, diaspora rivalries, and cross-border extremism, leaving Punjabi expatriates in Canada on high alert.

Also Read: Former Yuva Morcha President Murdered in Koppal, Karnataka Police Investigate