Authorities announced charges against the leader of an Indian criminal group on Tuesday in connection with the political assassination of a prominent Sikh leader in Canada. The charges were part of a massive law enforcement operation involving agencies across the United States, Canada, and Europe that swept up 37 defendants who are allegedly part of three Indian international crime syndicates tied to kidnappings, racketeering, extortion, firearms dealing, drug trafficking, and murder.

International Cooperation

The operation is an example of international cooperation, with law enforcement in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia working together to target and dismantle these criminal organizations wherever they operate. The groups have fueled violence, fear, and instability within the East Indian communities throughout California and abroad.

Lawrence Bishnoi, 33, and his childhood friend Satinderjeet Singh are accused of orchestrating the assassination of a well-known Sikh independence activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was fatally shot outside of a temple where he served as president in 2023. The killing sparked tensions between the Canadian and Indian governments, after then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that there were credible allegations that the Indian government was involved in Nijar’s death.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.